From bookshelves to bots: Encyclopedia Britannica is now an AI company

Encyclopedia Britannica

If you were born in the 90s, you probably remember Encyclopaedia Britannica—those iconic knowledge-packed books that seemed to have answers to everything, long before Google or Wikipedia existed. Whether you were curious about ancient history or modern science, Britannica was the ultimate place to turn for trusted information.

But even the best things have a shelf life. In 2012, Britannica stopped printing its famous volumes, marking the end of an era. Many thought that was the final chapter for the legendary encyclopedia.
Turns out, it was just the start of a new one. Today, Encyclopaedia Britannica has transformed into an AI company

How does Britannica AI work?

Britannica AI works differently from regular internet searches. Instead of pulling random information from across the web, it answers your questions using Britannica’s carefully written and fact-checked articles. It even provides links to the sources, so you know where the answers come from.

It’s not just about answering questions, though. Britannica AI keeps things safe by filtering out inappropriate topics and makes learning engaging by suggesting follow-up questions to deepen your understanding.

Of course, no AI is perfect. Britannica knows this, and they encourage users to double-check important details, just like they did when flipping through those old books. Their goal isn’t to replace human learning but to inspire curiosity and make trustworthy knowledge more accessible.
So, while the books may be gone, Britannica’s mission to spread reliable knowledge is very much alive—just in a form fit for the digital age. It’s proof that even a 250-year-old company can keep up with the times.