TikTok is introducing a new feature that allows them to lessen the amount of AI-made media appearing in their feeds. This step comes as the platform disclosed that it currently hosts more than 1 bn AI videos.
Trial and Implementation
This change is being tested over the coming weeks before a full-scale rollout. This development coincides with a surge in AI content, spurred by emerging video-generation tools.
The Broader AI Trend
Studies have shown that approximately 10% of the quickest rising video streams on another major platform primarily display content made by AI. A considerable share of this output is classified as “AI slop”, a label for poor-quality, factory-style content that is frequently nonsensical or surreal.
Our research shows that numerous viewers enjoy content created using AI tools, including digital art to educational videos, and we want to provide users the option to adjust the amount of that, depending on their own choices,” stated a company executive.
Volume and Proportions
TikTok disclosed that there are now 1.3 billion videos on its network tagged as AI-generated. Overall, over 100 million pieces of content are submitted to the platform each day, making clips made by AI a relatively small portion of its overall inventory.
User Control Features
Viewers will be able to reduce or increase the level of AI content they view by opening the content preference option in the app and selecting the AI content topic. Other topics that can already be modified under the filter encompass news, fashion, aesthetics, and choreography.
AI Disclosure Rules
The platform’s policies oblige users to tag convincing AI-generated content, and it forbids harmful deepfakes of celebrities or critical incidents. Any believable AI-generated clip that is not labeled can be deleted under its user guidelines.
Furthermore, the app will now add an AI-generated tag to content created with its built-in AI features, or identified by an industry-wide initiative for identifying content made by AI. This measure is aimed to stop users from seeking to bypass the tagging system.
AI Literacy Programs
TikTok is additionally establishing a $2m educational fund for professionals and institutions to produce learning resources about using AI responsibly. This program will benefit non-profit groups specializing in educating computer science.
Content Safety Approach
TikTok has justified its content review process, amid controversy over intentions to lay off hundreds of review team members in the United Kingdom. It is planning to reduce a significant number of roles in its trust and safety department in the UK capital, with worker representatives and digital protection specialists voicing alarm that humans are being replaced by AI moderation.
A trust and safety lead clarified that staff-based oversight would remain essential, but AI can safeguard staff by eliminating the most harmful content prior to it has to be seen by humans. TikTok reported a significant reduction in shocking and graphic content reviewed by safety staff over the previous year due to reliance on its AI tools.
It is vital to combine people and machines to ensure user safety,” the executive stated. “We’ll have humans as involved in the system, but we further consider it’s very important to minimize viewing of unsafe media as quickly as possible, which is the area in which a lot of the machine support is proving valuable operate efficiently.”
