AI not a threat to Wikipedia if content is verified, edited and used, say Wikimedians

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U.B. Pavanaja, IT expert and administrator of Tulu and Kannada Wikipedia, speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of Tulu Wikipedia in Mangaluru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH

Wikimedians who spoke at the 10th anniversary of Tulu Wikipedia said here on Saturday that artificial intelligence (AI) is not a threat to Wikipedia as long as its contents are thoroughly verified, filtered, edited and used. The emergence of AI can be taken as an opportunity to improve the contents of Wikipedia.

Speaking at a panel discussion on ‘Tulu Wikipedia in the age of AI: Whether good, bad or an opportunity’, senior Information Technology expert and admin of both Kannada and Tulu Wikipedia U.B. Pavanaja said a majority of Wikimedians in England are against the use of AI-generated content in Wikipedia. “They have adopted a policy not to use AI content in Wikipedia,” he said.

Mr. Pavanaja, who is also a bureaucrat of Kannada Wikipedia, said there should be checks before using AI content, failing which there would be blunders in Wikipedia.

He added that there is a need to create more online Tulu content to improve the quality of AI content on Tulu.

Kishore Kumar Rai Sheni, Treasurer of Karavali Wikimedians User Group — the promoter of Tulu Wikipedia — said the use of AI content takes away the creativity of a writer and editor of Wikipedia. “It hits creative writing. Direct use of AI-generated content in Wikipedia is dangerous,” he said.

Mr. Sheni said AI content should be used in an appropriate manner with caution.

Speaking on Tamil Wikipedia, its admin, and editor Neechal Karan said ancient Tamil literature has references to Tulu Nadu, the Kadri Manjunatha temple and the Mangaladevi temple in Mangaluru. “Even the State song of Tamil Nadu has a reference to Tulu,” he said, adding that similarities are found in some vocabulary, tradition, and culture of Tamil Nadu and Tulu Nadu.

He suggested that writers should write more fiction in Tulu and make it available online to increase Tulu content.

“How to attract Gen Z to write for Tulu Wikipedia?” asked Bharatesha Alasandemajalu, an editor of Tulu Wikipedia and moderator of the session. “The only way is to approach them and encourage youth to read and write,” replied Hariprasad, a zoology teacher and Wikimedian.

Karavali Wikimedians User Group hosted different activities to celebrate the 10th anniversary.

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