Marking its 25th anniversary, the Wikimedia Foundation has revealed a set of new collaborations with several AI technology firms, which have become clients of its commercial offering, Wikimedia Enterprise. This platform, created by the foundation, enables the large-scale reuse and distribution of content from Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.

Beyond the previously disclosed partnership with Google in 2022, the organization has now publicly confirmed it has established additional agreements over the past year with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Mistral AI, and Perplexity. Other previously mentioned partners, including Ecosia, Pleias, and ProRata, are also part of this announcement, alongside new names like Nomic and Reef Media.

These arrangements provide Wikipedia with a fresh avenue for sustainability in an era where a significant portion of its content is being utilized by AI models and various technology products to deliver fast, factual responses to user inquiries. As an enterprise product, Wikimedia Enterprise not only facilitates compensation for content use by tech companies but also grants them high-volume, high-speed access tailored to their data requirements.

In a related blog post, the foundation highlighted that Wikipedia currently ranks among the world's top-ten most-visited websites, with audiences accessing over 65 million articles in more than 300 languages nearly 15 billion times each month.

“Wikipedia demonstrates that knowledge is inherently human and requires human contribution. Particularly in this age of AI, the human-curated knowledge found on Wikipedia is more essential than ever,” stated Selena Deckelmann, Chief Product and Technology Officer of the Wikimedia Foundation. “With ongoing support from readers, volunteer editors, donors, partners, and enthusiasts worldwide, Wikipedia will continue to serve as the vital center for human-driven knowledge and online collaboration for the next quarter-century and beyond.”

Alongside the technology partnership news, the foundation has initiated a birthday campaign featuring a new documentary series that provides an insider’s view of Wikipedia volunteers across the globe. It has also introduced a “25 Years of Wikipedia” time capsule to explore the site’s history, current state, and future, with commentary from founder Jimmy Wales.

A livestreamed birthday celebration is scheduled for January 15 at 4:00 PM UTC, complete with special guests, interactive games, and entertainment. The event will be accessible on Wikipedia’s YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram channels.

The anniversary announcements also drew attention to other recent developments, such as enhancements to its technical infrastructure, its strategic approach to artificial intelligence, and new initiatives including interactive games and short-form video content.