There's yet another option: a simple Google search algorithm change can promote or hide a language from the results. We have seen it at Basque (and Catalan) Wikipedias, after they dediced to show the Spanish language result even if you search in Basque and the article exists. As we can't know who are the referals for our visits, this is only something we can speculate on.

Galder
From: Anders Wennersten <mail@anderswennersten.se>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2023 1:53 PM
To: wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org <wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org>
Subject: [Wikimedia-l] Re: Could the broad use of ChatGPT mean more accesses to Wikipedia?
 
Thanks Ziko for your reply, which very much echo my own worry.

If you try the ChatGPTt with the question amended with "Include a link
to Wikipedia" you find the answer is better for questioner and makes a
nice link to Wikipedia.

So if we are worried over your option A, we could enter 100000 questions
with that phrase amended, and after this ChatGPT have learnt and will
always answer with a nice link to wikipedia. (but in reality I believe
we will find that the developers of these AI tools themself find it a
very attractive extension and mandatory option)

Anders


Den 2023-05-15 kl. 12:37, skrev Ziko van Dijk:
> Dear Anders,
>
> Thank you for your interesting question - we have been wondering for
> some time what AI will mean for the future of the (entire) Wikimedia
> movement.
> Whether your observation is correct is also something I can only
> speculate about. Possibly such a growth is rather a sign of
> transition. Many people are still skeptical about AI. They then look
> it up on Wikipedia to be on the safe side.
>
> But which scenario will prevail?
>
> a) AI-friendly: People will get used to AI very quickly. Of course,
> people will affirm that they will always check all AI results. But
> practically, no one will do that any more soon. And accordingly,
> people will no longer look things up in Wikipedia itself. With all the
> negative consequences for us.
>
> b) AI-skeptical: Perhaps, after some scandals, people will not trust
> AI. Then the backwardness of Wikipedia becomes a benefit. Then we can
> proudly say, "Wikipedia is AI free!" And readers will appreciate it.
>
> My fear is that the first scenario is more likely to come to pass. I
> think the trend is that you speak a question into your smartphone.
> Then you get a short, correct and understandable answer from an AI.
> Will Wikipedia be able to do the same thing?
>
> Best regards,
> Ziko
>
> Am Mo., 15. Mai 2023 um 11:24 Uhr schrieb Anders Wennersten
> <mail@anderswennersten.se>:
>> The number of accesses to the Wikipedias of de, nl and sw all show a
>> small increase in March and April compared with 2022 after a half big
>> decrease in January and February. Could this be related to the broad
>> introduction and use of ChatGPT at the same time period?
>>
>> ChatGPT gives an excellent answer, with no use of Wikipedia, to the
>> question: "Who is the oldest person who has received the Nobel Prize in
>> chemistry?" but will the effect be that the person who put in that
>> question, access Wikipedia to read of him? And you get a very nice
>> answer from ChatGPT if you directly after the question above puts
>> "Include a link to Wikipedia"
>>
>> Could my speculation be correct, that ChatGPT will become an important
>> tool to help us reach our mission, by improving the way to find
>> information in our projects?
>>
>> Anders
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