2025:Program/How generative AI changes my contribution to Wikipedia – a volunteer perspective
Session title: How generative AI changes my contribution to Wikipedia – a volunteer perspective
- Session type: Lightning talk
- Track: Lightning Talk Showcase
- Language: en
Generative AI is increasingly part of daily life today. How can we use it wisely and beneficially, while avoiding risks it can pose, such as hallucinations? There are a lot of theoretical ruminations on this topic, but this session will be something different – a practical account of how generative AI impacts my *personal* contribution to Wikipedia as an editor and functionary with 12+ years of experience.
Description
Generative AI is increasingly part of daily life today. How can we use it wisely and beneficially, while avoiding risks it can pose, such as hallucinations? There are a lot of theoretical ruminations on this topic, but session will be something different – a practical account of how generative AI impacts my *personal* contribution to Wikipedia, from using AI for backend automation tasks to minimizing translations in favor of creating original articles from scratch.
I've been a volunteer editor and administrator of Ukrainian Wikipedia for 12+ years now with experience of both creating new encyclopedia articles and doing admin maintenance work. I've also been following AI advances closely and helping educate our community on this topic. Thus, I'll use my personal perspective to share how I've been approaching the use of AI in contributing to Wikipedia.
The key objective of this talk is to show a case study of how AI can be used effectively and ethically while contributing to Wikipedia – from the perspective of a real person rather than a theoretical approach.
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
The topic of AI relates to all three aspects of the theme. On inclusivity, AI can lower technical barriers for new Wikipedia contributors and provide valuable assistance. On impact, AI usage can have both powerful positive impact if done correctly and no less powerful negative impact if used without following a thoughtful process. On sustainability, AI usage can help combat editor burnout by automating tedious tasks – or, again, deepen burnout if done the wrong way (few people like fighting AI slop instead of doing more interesting and creative tasks).
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
Speakers
- Anton Protsiuk
- I've been a Wikipedia volunteer since 2012. In my volunteer capacity, I'm an administrator & bureaucrat on Ukrainian Wikipedia, typically devoting my time to admin and patrolling maintenance tasks, as well as to writing occasional articles on American politics and whatever fascinates me at the moment.
- I'm also Programs Coordinator at Wikimedia Ukraine. In this role, I lead a team of five staff members / contractors and oversee the organization’s programmatic work, such as content campaigns, diversity and editor recruitment initiatives, community events, and communications outreach.
- I'm also a member of the advisory group for the Wikimedia CEE Hub, which supports community growth and development in Central and Eastern Europe, and former member of the Hub's Steering Committee.