Creative Commons, the nonprofit known for its open licensing framework, has issued a tentative endorsement of “pay‑to‑crawl” technology that would charge AI bots for accessing website content. While the organization acknowledges the potential benefits for publishers facing reduced traffic from AI‑driven answers, it also warns that such systems could concentrate power and limit access for public‑interest actors. CC outlines a set of principles for responsible implementation, urging openness, throttling options, and safeguards for research and education. The stance reflects a balanced view of protecting content creators while navigating the evolving AI landscape. Read more →

Elon Musk’s artificial‑intelligence venture xAI has launched Grokipedia, a new online encyclopedia that mirrors Wikipedia’s layout and content style. The site offers a simple search‑driven homepage and article pages with headings, subheadings and citations, but currently limits user editing. Many entries acknowledge that they are adapted from Wikipedia under a Creative Commons license, and some appear nearly identical to their Wikipedia counterparts. xAI claims the platform includes AI‑generated fact‑checking, though critics note the challenges of AI‑produced “facts.” The Wikimedia Foundation’s spokesperson, Lauren Dickinson, emphasized Wikipedia’s longstanding role as a trusted, nonprofit knowledge source. Read more →