TikTok is introducing a new feature that permits them to reduce the amount of artificial intelligence-produced videos appearing in their streams. This initiative comes as the company announced that it presently contains over 1 thousand million AI videos.
Pilot Phase and Launch
The new functionality is undergoing trials over the following weeks before a widespread release. This development comes amid a rise in AI content, spurred by emerging content generation software.
AI Proliferation Online
Studies have shown that almost 10% of the most rapidly expanding video streams on a popular video site primarily display AI-generated videos. A significant portion of this material is deemed “AI slop”, a term for poor-quality, mass-produced content that is typically illogical or dreamlike.
Our research shows that many people enjoy content produced via AI tools, from digital art to informative clips, and we aim to offer the community the option to see more or less of that, depending on their own choices,” commented a spokesperson.
Scale of AI Content
TikTok shared that there are now 1.3 billion videos on its app labeled as AI-generated. Overall, over 100 mn pieces of content are submitted to the platform each day, making AI content a minor part of its total content library.
How to Adjust Settings
Members will be able to reduce or increase the volume of AI-generated videos they see by using the “manage topic” feature in the app and selecting AI-made media. Other topics that can already be adjusted under the filter include news, fashion, beauty, and movement.
Platform Guidelines
The platform’s rules require users to identify “realistic” artificially created content, and it forbids dangerous fake videos of public figures or crisis events. Any believable artificial content that is not labeled can be removed under its user guidelines.
Additionally, the service will from now on add an AI-generated label to content produced via its own AI tools, or detected by an collaborative effort for identifying content made by AI. This action is aimed to help prevent users from seeking to evade the labeling process.
Responsible AI Funding
TikTok is also launching a $2m AI literacy fund for experts and institutions to create informative material about responsible artificial intelligence. This initiative will benefit charitable organizations focused on teaching programming and robotics.
Content Safety Approach
TikTok has defended its moderation strategy, following controversy over plans to lay off hundreds of safety staff in the UK. It is planning to cut 439 jobs in its user protection division in the UK capital, with worker representatives and digital protection specialists voicing alarm that staff are being displaced by automated systems.
A trust and safety lead explained that staff-based oversight would remain essential, but automated tools can shield workers by removing the most harmful content before it has to be seen by people. The platform announced a 76% decrease in shocking and graphic content handled by content reviewers over the previous year due to the use of its automated systems.
“We think that it’s essential to balance staff and AI to keep the platform safe,” the official commented. “We’ll have people as integral to the approach, but we further consider it’s extremely critical to reduce exposure to dangerous material as quickly as possible, which is the area in which a significant AI assistance is proving valuable work at speed.”
