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How Wikipedia is fighting AI slop content [View all]
An influx of AI content is forcing Wikipedia’s volunteers to rethink how they can maintain the site’s credibility.
https://www.theverge.com/report/756810/wikipedia-ai-slop-policies-community-speedy-deletion
With the rise of AI writing tools, Wikipedia editors have had to deal with an onslaught of AI-generated content filled with false information and phony citations. Already, the community of Wikipedia volunteers has mobilized to fight back against AI slop, something Wikimedia Foundation product director Marshall Miller likens to a sort of “immune system” response.
“They are vigilant to make sure that the content stays neutral and reliable,” Miller says. “As the internet changes, as things like AI appear, that’s the immune system adapting to some kind of new challenge and figuring out how to process it.”
One way Wikipedians are sloshing through the muck is with the “speedy deletion” of poorly written articles, as reported earlier by 404 Media. A Wikipedia reviewer who expressed support for the rule said they are “flooded non-stop with horrendous drafts.” They add that the speedy removal “would greatly help efforts to combat it and save countless hours picking up the junk AI leaves behind.” Another says the “lies and fake references” inside AI outputs take “an incredible amount of experienced editor time to clean up.”
Typically, articles flagged for removal on Wikipedia enter a seven-day discussion period during which community members determine whether the site should delete the article. The newly adopted rule will allow Wikipedia administrators to circumvent these discussions if an article is clearly AI-generated and wasn’t reviewed by the person submitting it. That means looking for three main signs:
• Writing directed toward the user, such as “Here is your Wikipedia article on…,” or “I hope that helps!”
• “Nonsensical” citations, including those with incorrect references to authors or publications.
• Non-existent references, like dead links, ISBNs with invalid checksums, or unresolvable DOIs.
“They are vigilant to make sure that the content stays neutral and reliable,” Miller says. “As the internet changes, as things like AI appear, that’s the immune system adapting to some kind of new challenge and figuring out how to process it.”
One way Wikipedians are sloshing through the muck is with the “speedy deletion” of poorly written articles, as reported earlier by 404 Media. A Wikipedia reviewer who expressed support for the rule said they are “flooded non-stop with horrendous drafts.” They add that the speedy removal “would greatly help efforts to combat it and save countless hours picking up the junk AI leaves behind.” Another says the “lies and fake references” inside AI outputs take “an incredible amount of experienced editor time to clean up.”
Typically, articles flagged for removal on Wikipedia enter a seven-day discussion period during which community members determine whether the site should delete the article. The newly adopted rule will allow Wikipedia administrators to circumvent these discussions if an article is clearly AI-generated and wasn’t reviewed by the person submitting it. That means looking for three main signs:
• Writing directed toward the user, such as “Here is your Wikipedia article on…,” or “I hope that helps!”
• “Nonsensical” citations, including those with incorrect references to authors or publications.
• Non-existent references, like dead links, ISBNs with invalid checksums, or unresolvable DOIs.
and more ....
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