State of Wikimedia & AI 2026: Freedom, Equity, Reliability at a Crossroad
🎥 Session recording: [https://youtu.be/EQ4dNEOlAlY?list=PLfq0CVoHfK80&t=6533](https://youtu.be/EQ4dNEOlAlY?list=PLfq0CVoHfK80&t=6533)
Wikimania brings together contributors, affiliates, the Wikimedia Foundation, and partner organizations from across the movement. It is therefore a natural moment to pause and reflect together on how Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and advanced technologies are shaping our projects, communities and shared infrastructure.
This panel, which has now become a Wikimania tradition, offers a structured reflection on the current state of Wikimedia and AI in 2026, anchored in the conference theme of *Freedom, Equity, and Reliability*.
The discussion will focus on three areas:
1. **Highlights and promising practices** from the past year. What has worked? What experiments, tools, or collaborations show potential?
2. **Current challenges and tensions**, including questions around participation, governance, sustainability and required infrastructures and resources.
3. **What should we focus on next?** What does the movement need in order to strengthen freedom, equity, and reliability in an AI-shaped landscape?
This session is not about one project or initiative -- it is about creating space for shared reflection across roles and perspectives at a time of rapid change. The panel will bring together representatives from different parts of the movement, including 2 community members, 2 affiliates, 1 Wikimedia Foundation, 1 BoT, and 1 like-minded organizations working with Wikimedia projects. Exact participants will be finalized after acceptance, as in previous years.). Together, they will share concrete examples, reflect on emerging patterns, and identify areas where coordination or new approaches may be needed.
The panel discussion will be followed by Q&A with the audience, to ensure broader engagement and reflection.
Panelists include:
* **Jimmy Wales,** Founder of Wikipedia & member of the WMF’s Board of Trustees and Wikimedia Endowment.
* **Chris Albon**, Director of Machine Learning and Data, Wikimedia Foundation
* **Lane Becker**, Senior Director for Earned Revenue, Wikimedia Enterprise
* **Ilario Valdelli**, Innovation Programme Lead, Wikimedia CH
* **Netha Hussain**, Physician and Wikimedian
And --
* **Audrey Tang** (remote), [CyberAmbassador.tw](http://cyberambassador.tw/) and[ Civic.AI](http://civic.ai/).
