TikTok is introducing a new feature that permits them to lessen the quantity of artificial intelligence-produced media appearing in their timelines. This move comes as the service announced that it currently hosts more than 1 bn content made with AI.
Testing and Rollout
The new functionality is being tested over the next few weeks before a full-scale release. This shift aligns with a increase in AI-generated material, spurred by new AI video creators.
The Broader AI Trend
Studies have shown that approximately a tenth of the fastest-growing channels on another major platform primarily display AI-generated videos. A large amount of this content is considered “AI slop”, a phrase for inferior, bulk-generated content that is frequently absurd or bizarre.
Based on user feedback that a lot of users enjoy content produced via AI tools, from AI artwork to informative clips, and we want to offer the community the ability to adjust the amount of that, according to their own preferences,” said a company executive.
Volume and Proportions
The platform announced that there are currently over a billion videos on its network labeled as made with AI. In total, in excess of 100 m media items are added to the platform every day, making AI content a relatively small portion of its overall inventory.
How to Adjust Settings
Viewers will be in a position to limit or boost the level of AI content they see by using the topic control feature in the application and picking AI-made media. Additional categories that can already be modified under the setting encompass politics, clothing, cosmetics, and dance.
Content Labeling and Policies
The platform’s guidelines require creators to identify lifelike AI-generated content, and it bans harmful AI impersonations of public figures or emergencies. Any authentic-looking AI video that is unmarked can be removed under its user guidelines.
Additionally, the platform will now add an artificially created tag to content created with its own AI tools, or identified by an industry-wide initiative for identifying artificial media. This action is aimed to stop users from seeking to circumvent the disclosure requirement.
Responsible AI Funding
The platform is furthermore introducing a $2m AI literacy fund for professionals and groups to create educational content about using AI responsibly. This program will benefit charitable organizations specializing in teaching coding and technology.
Platform Protection
TikTok has supported its safety measures, following discussion over intentions to make redundant a large number of safety staff in the UK. The company is expected to reduce a significant number of roles in its content moderation department in its British office, with labor groups and online safety experts voicing alarm that staff are being displaced by AI moderation.
A company official stated that staff-based oversight would still have a role, but automated tools can protect employees by filtering out the most distressing content before it has to be seen by people. TikTok reported a 76% decrease in shocking and graphic content reviewed by content reviewers over the previous year due to reliance on its automated systems.
“We think that it’s essential to combine staff and AI to keep the platform safe,” the executive stated. “We’ll have humans as involved in the system, but we additionally believe it’s very important to limit contact with dangerous material as quickly as possible, which is the area in which a lot of the machine support is making a difference work at speed.”
