TikTok is introducing a new feature that allows them to lessen the quantity of artificial intelligence-produced videos appearing in their timelines. This move comes as the platform disclosed that it now features over 1 bn AI videos.
Trial and Implementation
The new functionality is being tested over the following weeks before a widespread launch. This shift aligns with a increase in content created by AI, spurred by emerging content generation software.
The Broader AI Trend
Studies have shown that nearly one in 10 of the quickest rising channels on a competing service exclusively feature clips produced artificially. A significant portion of this output is deemed “AI slop”, a label for poor-quality, bulk-generated content that is typically illogical or bizarre.
“We know from our community that many people enjoy content created using AI tools, from digital art to informative clips, and we intend to offer the community the ability to increase or decrease of that, depending on their own likes,” stated a company executive.
Volume and Proportions
The service announced that there are presently 1.3bn videos on its app identified as artificially created. In total, more than 100 m pieces of content are added to the platform every day, making AI content a relatively small percentage of its complete catalog.
How to Adjust Settings
Viewers will be in a position to limit or boost the volume of AI content they view by using the “manage topic” setting in the app and picking the AI content topic. Additional categories that currently be modified under the filter include current affairs, style, beauty, and dance.
Content Labeling and Policies
Its policies oblige users to tag lifelike AI-made content, and it prohibits harmful deepfakes of celebrities or emergencies. Any realistic AI-generated clip that is without a tag can be taken down under its user guidelines.
Additionally, the service will henceforth attach an artificially created label to content produced via its built-in AI features, or detected by an industry-wide initiative for recognizing AI-generated material. This action is designed to stop users from seeking to bypass the tagging system.
AI Literacy Programs
TikTok is also launching a $2m AI literacy fund for professionals and institutions to create educational content about responsible artificial intelligence. This project will support non-profit groups dedicated to teaching coding and technology.
Content Safety Approach
The platform has supported its moderation strategy, following debate over intentions to make redundant a large number of safety staff in the UK. The company is planning to reduce 439 jobs in its content moderation division in its British office, with trade unions and internet security professionals raising concerns that staff are being displaced by machine-led review.
A senior executive explained that people-led review would remain essential, but artificial intelligence can safeguard staff by filtering out the most distressing content before it gets reviewed by people. The company stated a 76% decrease in shocking and graphic content seen by human moderators over the past year due to intervention by its automated systems.
It is vital to integrate people and machines to maintain a secure environment,” the executive stated. “We’ll have humans as involved in the system, but we further consider it’s highly necessary to reduce exposure to unsafe media as rapidly, which is why a lot of the machine support is proving valuable operate efficiently.”
