The French version of Wikipedia has officially banned the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for writing articles. This decision was approved by a large majority during a closed vote on Monday, September 14, 2026, with 92 percent of the 113 participants voting in favor of the ban. The move comes amid growing concerns about the reliability of generative AI tools, which can quickly create content that includes false or misleading information, often citing references that do not actually exist. This kind of production is seen as incompatible with Wikipedia’s goal of maintaining accurate, verifiable information through human collaboration. Previously, the use of generative AI had been "strongly discouraged," according to Jules, a volunteer administrator of Wikipedia. However, this approach was viewed as too lenient, potentially allowing misuse of AI-generated content. Speaking to Le Monde, Jules explained that the community initially hesitated due to limited experience with the technology. But after observing how AI can generate a wide range of content—often with questionable accuracy—the community decided to implement stricter measures. "Now that we've seen what it can produce, we decided to tighten up," Jules said. The French-speaking Wikipedia community emphasized that the use of large language models has "almost systematically" violated Wikipedia’s core principles, especially the need for content to be verifiable. However, the ban is not absolute. Generative AI is still permitted in specific, limited scenarios, such as correcting spelling or summarizing sources for experienced users who must confirm they have reviewed the original materials. The French version of Wikipedia is now following the lead of the English version, which had already banned generative AI for article writing in March 2026. This trend is not limited to English and French speakers either. The German Wikipedia had adopted strict guidelines on generative AI as early as February 2026, emphasizing that Wikipedia is "a project whose content is documented and written by humans for humans." As a result, the major language communities of Wikipedia are progressively rejecting the use of AI-generated content in favor of human-crafted, verified information.