TikTok is introducing a new feature that permits them to reduce the quantity of AI-made videos appearing in their timelines. This initiative comes as the platform disclosed that it currently hosts more than 1 thousand million content made with AI.
Testing and Rollout
The update is being tested over the following weeks before a full-scale rollout. This shift comes amid a increase in AI content, driven by emerging AI video creators.
AI Content on Other Platforms
Studies have shown that nearly a tenth of the most rapidly expanding channels on a popular video site primarily display content made by AI. A large amount of this material is considered “AI slop”, a term for substandard, factory-style content that is often nonsensical or surreal.
“We know from our community that many people enjoy content made with AI tools, ranging from computer-generated images to educational videos, and we aim to provide users the ability to adjust the amount of that, according to their own preferences,” commented a platform representative.
AI on the Platform
The platform announced that there are presently over a billion videos on its app tagged as artificially created. In total, more than 100 m media items are added to the service every day, making AI-generated material a relatively small part of its complete catalog.
Customizing Your Feed
Members will be in a position to limit or boost the volume of artificial media they view by opening the content preference feature in the app and selecting “AI-generated content”. Further subjects that can already be modified under the filter include news, style, cosmetics, and choreography.
AI Disclosure Rules
Its guidelines oblige users to label convincing AI-generated content, and it prohibits harmful deepfakes of celebrities or critical incidents. Any believable artificial content that is without a tag can be deleted under its user guidelines.
In addition, the platform will from now on attach an AI-generated tag to content made using its own AI tools, or identified by an cross-platform project for recognizing AI-generated material. This step is intended to stop users from seeking to circumvent the labeling process.
Responsible AI Funding
The platform is furthermore introducing a $2m AI literacy fund for experts and groups to develop learning resources about using AI responsibly. This program will benefit educational bodies focused on educating coding and technology.
Content Safety Approach
The platform has defended its moderation strategy, amid discussion over plans to lay off hundreds of safety staff in the UK. The company is expected to cut hundreds of positions in its user protection division in London, with worker representatives and digital protection specialists raising concerns that people are being substituted by automated systems.
A senior executive clarified that people-led review would still have a role, but automated tools can shield workers by filtering out the most distressing content before it gets reviewed by people. TikTok stated a 76% decrease in disturbing and violent content seen by human moderators over the past year due to reliance on its automated systems.
“We think that it’s essential to balance people and machines to ensure user safety,” the executive stated. “We’ll have people as involved in the system, but we additionally believe it’s highly necessary to reduce exposure to unsafe media as quickly as possible, which is why a lot of the machine support is proving valuable work at speed.”
