Wikipedia inks AI deals with Microsoft, Meta and Perplexity as it marks 25th birthday

Wikipedia's partnerships with Microsoft, Meta, and Perplexity to provide access to its content in exchange for financial support marks a significant milestone in its 25th year. This development indicates that major tech companies are willing to pay for high-quality, reliable data to train and improve their AI models. For website owners, this news means that the bar for content quality and reliability has been raised. As AI models become more sophisticated, they will be trained on Wikipedia's vast and accurate dataset, potentially changing the way they interact with and evaluate website content. This could lead to increased scrutiny of website content, with AI-powered tools more effectively identifying and flagging low-quality or inaccurate information. To prepare for this shift, website owners should focus on ensuring the accuracy and reliability of their content. Actionable tips include regularly auditing and updating website content to reflect the latest information, implementing robust fact-checking processes, and optimizing llms.txt files to provide clear guidelines for AI bots interacting with their site. By taking these steps, website owners can improve their chances of being viewed favorably by AI-powered tools and maintain a strong online presence.