Web-based encyclopedia, Wikipedia has dropped plans to test AI summaries for search results following resistance from editors.
In a forum discussion on 2 June, the editors kicked against the idea of AI summaries, saying it could ruin the reputation of the widely trusted information source.
AI summaries have a bad name
One of the reasons the editors kicked against the idea is that AI summaries have a bad reputation, an example being Google’s.
Many times, Google users have complained about how inaccurate the summaries are about several subjects. This has led to users looking for ways to bypass the summaries.
One editor wrote:
“If this were to actually happen, some or many readers would just glance at the summary instead of reading the article. Since the summary will form the glancers’ entire impression of the subject, it needs to be extremely accurate. I suspect it is often not. Even if editor moderation helps this problem, you may as well just go to Simple English Wikipedia and get the same thing but actually made by humans.”
Another editor argued that Wikipedia already has leads which are much better than what LLMs can generate, which can lead to angry readers.
“Devs, please realize that we are not going to accept integrated LLMs, and stop wasting time on such boondoggles. I will strongly oppose the integration of this feature into EnWP or any other Wiki. Our reputation is on the line here.”
Diverging opinions
Not all the editors were against the idea of AI summaries though. Some were actually open to it, but the overwhelming majority — many of which saw this situation coming — resisted the idea, hence the conclusion to abandon it.
The devs had proposed an initial 2-week testing period before deciding to integrate the LLMs summary, but even that was suspended.
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