Wikipedia Signs AI Access Deals with Major Tech Firms on 25th Anniversary

On its 25th anniversary, Wikipedia announced new business agreements with major AI companies including Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity, and Mistral AI. These deals allow AI firms to access Wikipedia's extensive, human-curated content at tailored volumes and speeds, helping the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation monetize the heavy traffic generated by AI usage. While AI training on Wikipedia data has raised questions about fair compensation for infrastructure costs, founder Jimmy Wales supports the practice, emphasizing the value of Wikipedia's curated information compared to social media sources.