TikTok is introducing a new feature that permits them to lessen the volume of AI-created media appearing in their feeds. This move comes as the company revealed that it now features over 1 bn AI-generated clips.
Pilot Phase and Launch
The new functionality is undergoing trials over the next few weeks before a full-scale rollout. This development coincides with a surge in AI content, driven by recent AI video creators.
AI Content on Other Platforms
Studies have shown that nearly 10% of the quickest rising video streams on a competing service exclusively feature clips produced artificially. A considerable share of this content is considered “AI slop”, a label for substandard, mass-produced content that is typically illogical or surreal.
“We know from our community that many people like content produced via AI tools, including AI artwork to science explainers, and we want to provide users the option to adjust the amount of that, according to their own preferences,” commented a company executive.
Scale of AI Content
The service shared that there are currently 1.3bn videos on its network identified as artificially created. Collectively, in excess of 100 mn media items are submitted to the service daily, making AI-generated material a minor portion of its complete catalog.
How to Adjust Settings
Users will be able to decrease or raise the amount of AI-generated videos they see by opening the topic control feature in the app and choosing “AI-generated content”. Further subjects that can already be adjusted under the filter include current affairs, fashion, aesthetics, and choreography.
Platform Guidelines
Its rules oblige content makers to label “realistic” artificially created content, and it prohibits malicious deepfakes of public figures or emergencies. Any believable AI-generated clip that is unmarked can be deleted under its terms of service.
Additionally, the app will from now on apply an “AI-made” watermark to content created with its built-in AI features, or identified by an cross-platform project for recognizing content made by AI. This measure is designed to help prevent users from attempting to circumvent the labeling process.
Responsible AI Funding
The company is additionally introducing a $2m awareness program for professionals and groups to develop educational content about responsible artificial intelligence. This program will assist charitable organizations dedicated to training coding and technology.
Content Safety Approach
The video-sharing app has justified its content review process, following debate over intentions to cut jobs for numerous content moderators in the United Kingdom. TikTok is planning to cut 439 jobs in its user protection department in its British office, with worker representatives and online safety experts expressing worry that people are being substituted by automated systems.
A trust and safety lead clarified that people-led review would still have a role, but artificial intelligence can safeguard staff by eliminating the most graphic content prior to it is viewed by people. The platform reported a notable drop in explicit and harmful content reviewed by human moderators over the last 12 months due to reliance on its machine learning processes.
It is vital to integrate staff and AI to maintain a secure environment,” she said. “We’ll have staff as involved in the system, but we also think it’s highly necessary to reduce exposure to dangerous material as quickly as possible, which is why a significant AI assistance is proving valuable process content quickly.”
