As a former NLP engineer and former wikiHow engineer, I have some perspective on this. Google has included more and more information from Wikipedia. Furthermore, Google includes snippets of external websites in the knowledge box on more and more pages.

How long will be until can algorithmically generate its own Wikipedia articles? Wikipedia relies upon coming to its site for contributions and donations. Without search, Wikipedia risks being subsumed by Google. They have a difficult position of thinking about the future without pissing off Google.

Computers are getting more and more powerful. Wikipedia needs to do stay relevant. I think this is the right decision.