TikTok is introducing a new feature that enables them to reduce the quantity of AI-made content appearing in their timelines. This move comes as the company disclosed that it now features in excess of 1 thousand million AI videos.
Trial and Implementation
This change is being tested over the following weeks before a widespread release. This shift comes amid a surge in AI content, driven by emerging video-generation tools.
AI Content on Other Platforms
Studies have shown that almost 10% of the fastest-growing video streams on another major platform primarily display content made by AI. A large amount of this content is deemed “AI slop”, a term for poor-quality, factory-style content that is typically absurd or surreal.
“We know from our community that numerous viewers appreciate content produced via AI tools, ranging from digital art to science explainers, and we intend to offer the community the power to see more or less of that, according to their own preferences,” commented a company executive.
Volume and Proportions
TikTok disclosed that there are presently 1.3 billion videos on its network labeled as made with AI. Collectively, more than 100 mn pieces of content are uploaded to the app every day, making AI content a relatively small percentage of its overall inventory.
User Control Features
Members will be able to reduce or increase the level of AI content they view by accessing the topic control option in the application and choosing “AI-generated content”. Additional categories that currently be controlled under the setting encompass news, clothing, aesthetics, and dance.
Content Labeling and Policies
Its guidelines oblige content makers to identify convincing artificially created content, and it bans dangerous fake videos of public figures or critical incidents. Any authentic-looking AI video that is without a tag can be removed under its community policies.
Additionally, the app will henceforth add an “AI-made” tag to content made using its proprietary AI systems, or flagged by an cross-platform project for recognizing content made by AI. This measure is designed to stop users from trying to circumvent the labeling process.
AI Literacy Programs
TikTok is also introducing a two million dollar AI literacy fund for professionals and organizations to create informative material about ethical AI use. This program will assist charitable organizations dedicated to educating coding and technology.
Platform Protection
TikTok has defended its content review process, during discussion over proposals to cut jobs for a large number of safety staff in the UK. The company is planning to reduce a significant number of roles in its trust and safety division in its British office, with worker representatives and digital protection specialists expressing worry that humans are being replaced by AI moderation.
A trust and safety lead explained that people-led review would still have a role, but AI can safeguard staff by removing the most harmful content prior to it is viewed by humans. The company announced a significant reduction in shocking and graphic content handled by content reviewers over the previous year due to the use of its machine learning processes.
We believe it is crucial to integrate people and machines to maintain a secure environment,” she said. “We’ll have people as part of that process, but we further consider it’s extremely critical to reduce exposure to harmful content as swiftly, which is the area in which a significant AI assistance is really helping us process content quickly.”
