TikTok is introducing a updated setting that allows them to reduce the amount of AI-created videos appearing in their timelines. This move comes as the platform revealed that it currently hosts in excess of 1 thousand million AI-generated clips.
Testing and Rollout
The new functionality is being tested over the coming weeks before a widespread release. This shift comes amid a surge in AI content, spurred by recent content generation software.
The Broader AI Trend
Recent reports that nearly a tenth of the most rapidly expanding video streams on a popular video site only show AI-generated videos. A significant portion of this content is considered “AI slop”, a term for inferior, mass-produced content that is frequently nonsensical or bizarre.
Our research shows that numerous viewers appreciate content produced via AI tools, from AI artwork to science explainers, and we intend to provide users the ability to see more or less of that, according to their own preferences,” stated a company executive.
Scale of AI Content
TikTok shared that there are currently over a billion videos on its app tagged as artificially created. In total, more than 100 million pieces of content are added to the platform each day, making AI content a relatively small portion of its complete catalog.
Customizing Your Feed
Viewers will be capable of limit or boost the volume of AI content they view by using the topic control option in the app and choosing AI-made media. Additional categories that can already be adjusted under the tool cover politics, style, beauty, and choreography.
AI Disclosure Rules
The platform’s rules mandate users to identify convincing AI-generated content, and it prohibits malicious fake videos of well-known individuals or emergencies. Any believable AI video that is not labeled can be taken down under its terms of service.
Additionally, the platform will now apply an artificially created label to content created with its built-in AI features, or detected by an cross-platform project for spotting AI-generated material. This step is designed to help prevent users from trying to circumvent the labeling process.
Responsible AI Funding
The platform is additionally establishing a two million dollar awareness program for experts and institutions to create learning resources about using AI responsibly. This program will support non-profit groups dedicated to training programming and robotics.
Content Safety Approach
The video-sharing app has justified its safety measures, following discussion over intentions to cut jobs for a large number of safety staff in the UK. It is set to cut 439 jobs in its trust and safety team in the UK capital, with worker representatives and internet security professionals expressing worry that humans are being replaced by automated systems.
A senior executive clarified that people-led review would continue to be important, but automated tools can safeguard staff by removing the most distressing content prior to it gets reviewed by people. TikTok reported a notable drop in disturbing and violent content reviewed by safety staff over the previous year due to reliance on its automated systems.
“We think that it’s essential to balance humans and technology to ensure user safety,” the official commented. “We’ll have staff as involved in the system, but we also think it’s very important to limit contact with unsafe media as rapidly, which is the area in which a significant AI assistance is proving valuable process content quickly.”
