Pilot Project on AI Usage at the Edit-a-thon
At the Zurich location, a pilot project initiated by Edit-a-thon partner Ringier was launched to explore the use of common AI tools to assist in creating, updating, or translating Wikipedia articles. The goal of the test is to understand if and how participants of the Edit-a-thon use AI tools and whether the number and quality of articles can be improved as a result. Care was taken to ensure that the final editing of articles was carried out by the authors themselves. This ensures that the results meet the strict criteria of the Wikipedia community. Representatives of the Edit-a-thon partners EqualVoice and Ringier emphasized: “It is self-evident for us that the final fact-checking and content review must remain entirely manual.” AI is intended to support humans but not replace them. With this pilot, the organizers aim to connect to current media usage trends, specifically encourage women to use AI tools, and contribute to the Edit-a-thon’s core idea of writing more women into Wikipedia.
With the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) Academy of Art and Design Basel (HGK Basel), the Edit-a-thon 2025 has further expanded. The university participated as a patronage partner and hosted the event in Basel for the first time. Students from the Masterstudio Design program improved incomplete Wikipedia entries on female athletes, artists, and designers.
Prof. Nicole Schneider, FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel: “Female designers and artists are still significantly underrepresented on Wikipedia. By participating in the Edit-a-thon, we as a university actively contribute to increasing this visibility and anchoring their achievements sustainably in the digital space. At the same time, we teach our students the basics to independently contribute to Wikipedia in the future.”
Also new to the patronage is alliance F with the project “Helvetia rennt!,” which advocates for greater equality in sports and stronger representation of women in leadership roles.
Sandra Plaza, alliance F: “‘Helvetia ruft!’ demonstrated how we could collectively increase the proportion of women in politics. With ‘Helvetia rennt!,’ we aim to transfer this momentum to sports and strengthen women in leadership roles. Equality in sports cannot simply be decreed – it must be actively worked on. It is all the more rewarding to be part of this Edit-a-thon.”
Joint Effort Against Digital Gaps
Participants created a total of 185 new articles or additions to existing entries, thereby enhancing the visibility of women on Wikipedia. At the same time, they submitted further suggestions for women deemed relevant for a Wikipedia entry. The Edit-a-thon helps close digital gaps and reduce biases in an increasingly AI-driven information environment.
Next Edit-a-thon
The date for the next edition is already set: The 15th Edit-a-thon “For More Visibility on Wikipedia” will take place on April 21, 2026. Information about the event will be announced early next year. For more information, visit: www.editathon.ch
About EqualVoice
The EqualVoice Initiative was launched in November 2019 by Annabella Bassler, CFO Ringier AG, and is chaired by publisher Michael Ringier and CEO Marc Walder. Its aim is to promote gender equality and increase the visibility of women in media. At its core lies the EqualVoice Factor, which measures women’s and men’s presence in editorial content. The initiative is now active across 32 media brands in seven countries, reaching more than 50 million users, and is supported by the EqualVoice United network of over 20 companies committed to equality. More information: www.equalvoice.ch
About Ringier
Ringier is a leading European media company headquartered in Switzerland with a history spanning more than 190 years. With around 6,000 employees, the group operates over 130 companies in 19 European and African countries. The Ringier portfolio comprises three main business areas: leading media brands, sports media platforms, and digital marketplaces. With a digital EBITDA share of 82 percent, Ringier is one of Europe’s leading media companies. The group remains majority family-owned to this day. Its best-known media brands include Blick, Bilanz, LandLiebe, L’illustré and Schweizer Illustrierte in Switzerland, Blic in Serbia, Aktuality in Slovakia, and Onet, Fakt, Forbes, and Business Insider in Poland. In the sports media sector, Ringier is present with platforms such as A Bola in Portugal, GSP.ro in Romania, sportal.bg in Bulgaria, and Sportal.rs in Serbia. The digital marketplaces are led by flagships such as JobCloud and SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in Switzerland, eJobs and imobiliare in Romania, CV Keskus in the Baltic states, and Profession in Hungary.