Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI have all joined Google in paying the Wikimedia Foundation for structured access to its projects, including the online encyclopedia’s 65 million articles.

These agreements are part of Wikimedia Enterprise, a paid API launched in 2021 that provides high-quality, reliable data tailored for large-scale use by companies. 

The initiative allows tech firms to tap Wikipedia’s content without overwhelming its servers, a problem that had been growing as companies relied more on freely available articles for AI model training.

“Wikipedia is a critical component of these tech companies’ work that they need to figure out how to support financially,” Lane Becker, president of Wikimedia Enterprise, told Reuters. 

“It took us a little while to understand the right set of features and functionality to offer if we’re going to move these companies from our free platform to a commercial platform … but all our Big Tech partners really see the need for them to commit to sustaining Wikipedia’s work.”

The timing of the announcement coincides with Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary, highlighting how far the volunteer-driven platform has come since its launch. 

What began as a community-powered encyclopedia is now a vital resource for the global tech industry, underpinning much of the data used in AI development.

Microsoft’s Tim Frank, corporate vice president, noted the importance of the development: “Access to high‑quality, trustworthy information is at the heart of how we think about the future of AI at Microsoft … (With Wikimedia), we’re helping create a sustainable content ecosystem for the AI internet, where contributors are valued.”

Traditionally funded by small public donations, Wikipedia has faced increased server costs due to large-scale content use by AI developers. 

The Enterprise programme addresses this by providing structured, paid access, creating a sustainable revenue model without undermining the free encyclopedia that millions rely on.

Adding to this era of change, Bernadette Meehan, former U.S. Ambassador to Chile, took over as Wikimedia Foundation CEO on January 20, 2026. 

Her appointment is a professionalisation of leadership as the organisation balances public service with commercial partnerships.

The new agreements formalise Wikipedia’s function in the data supply chain for tech giants while protecting the volunteer work that underpins the platform.

This immediately sent the company’s shares up by 16% after trading hours.

Under the one-year deal, paid in cash and equity, Perplexity’s AI-powered “answer engine” will become part of Snapchat’s chat interface, letting users ask questions and receive verified, real-time responses without leaving the app. 

Revenue contributions from the partnership are expected to begin in 2026.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel confirmed that the new feature will be ad-free. “Perplexity AI will control the responses from their chatbot inside of Snapchat. So, we won’t be selling advertising against the Perplexity responses,” he said.

The collaboration will enable Snap to compete more aggressively with social media giants like TikTok and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, both of which have long topped the advertising market. 

Analysts see mutual benefits as Perplexity gains exposure among younger audiences, while Snap strengthens user engagement within its platform.

“Perplexity needs a way to build its profile among young consumers, and Snap needs an AI chat partner that will allow its users to stay engaged without leaving its app,” said Max Willens, principal analyst at Emarketer.

Snap’s own AI tool, “My AI,” will be available, but users will now have the option to interact with Perplexity’s chatbot instead. Spiegel described the initiative as part of Snap’s goal to make artificial intelligence “more personal, social, and fun.” He also noted that more third-party AI integrations could follow.

The announcement came alongside Snap’s third-quarter earnings, which showed a 10% year-on-year revenue increase to $1.51 billion, beating analyst expectations of $1.49 billion, according to LSEG data. 

The company’s net loss narrowed to $104 million, down from $153 million a year earlier, while daily active users climbed 8% to 477 million globally.

Snap’s focus on direct-response advertising continued to pay off, with that segment rising 8% during the quarter. Growth was driven by demand for its “Pixel Purchase” and “App Purchase” tools, which help businesses reach users more likely to complete transactions.

Still, the company warned of possible challenges in the coming quarter. Snap expects daily active users could decline slightly due to new regulatory changes, including Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age Bill, which takes effect in December and will tighten access for younger users.

For the final quarter of 2025, Snap projected revenue between $1.68 billion and $1.71 billion, broadly in line with market expectations of $1.69 billion.

According to internal financial documents reviewed by The Information, OpenAI plans to reduce Microsoft’s current 20% revenue share to just 10% by 2030. 

This projection comes as OpenAI pulls back on an earlier restructuring that would have shifted more control to its for-profit subsidiary. The nonprofit arm will continue to operate, ensuring OpenAI’s original governance structure stands.

Despite Microsoft’s massive investment, reportedly exceeding $13 billion, the revenue model is evolving. While the partnership remains intact, the financial terms are changing. 

Microsoft’s current agreement, which runs through 2030, gives it exclusive access to OpenAI’s APIs on Azure and integration rights for OpenAI’s intellectual property in Microsoft products like Copilot.

However, OpenAI is making it clear to both current and prospective investors that those terms could look very different as the decade progresses. The revised projections show a wider recalibration of how OpenAI engages with its commercial partners. 

I see this beyond a simple financial tweak. OpenAI’s intent is to reassert independence while still leaning on strategic alliances.

Added to this, Microsoft hasn’t approved the proposed corporate structure changes yet. Sources say the company wants firm assurances that its multibillion-dollar stake remains protected under the new setup. With discussions ongoing, it’s clear that Microsoft’s interests go far beyond 2030.

“We continue to work closely with Microsoft, and look forward to finalising the details of this recapitalisation in the near future,” an OpenAI spokesperson told The Information.

Hence, both firms are keeping public statements minimal. Microsoft declined to comment further, and OpenAI has not issued any additional responses.