TikTok is introducing a updated setting that enables them to cut down on the amount of AI-created videos appearing in their timelines. This move comes as the service disclosed that it currently hosts more than 1 thousand million AI-generated clips.
Trial and Implementation
This change is in a pilot phase over the following weeks before a widespread launch. This shift coincides with a rise in content created by AI, spurred by recent content generation software.
The Broader AI Trend
Recent reports that nearly a tenth of the quickest rising channels on a popular video site primarily display content made by AI. A large amount of this output is deemed “AI slop”, a phrase for inferior, factory-style content that is typically illogical or surreal.
Our research shows that many people like content made with AI tools, ranging from digital art to science explainers, and we intend to offer the community the power to see more or less of that, according to their own likes,” said a company executive.
AI on the Platform
The platform shared that there are now 1.3bn videos on its network tagged as AI-generated. Collectively, over 100 m pieces of content are submitted to the service every day, making clips made by AI a relatively small portion of its complete catalog.
How to Adjust Settings
Members will be able to limit or boost the amount of AI content they view by accessing the content preference setting in the app and choosing “AI-generated content”. Additional categories that currently be controlled under the filter encompass current affairs, style, cosmetics, and dance.
AI Disclosure Rules
TikTok’s policies oblige users to identify lifelike AI-generated content, and it bans malicious deepfakes of well-known individuals or crisis events. Any realistic AI-generated clip that is without a tag can be deleted under its terms of service.
Additionally, the service will from now on add an artificially created watermark to content created with its proprietary AI systems, or identified by an collaborative effort for identifying content made by AI. This action is designed to help prevent users from attempting to evade the disclosure requirement.
Educational Initiatives
The platform is furthermore establishing a $2 million educational fund for professionals and organizations to produce educational content about using AI responsibly. This program will benefit charitable organizations specializing in educating programming and robotics.
Moderation Strategy
The video-sharing app has defended its content review process, following controversy over proposals to cut jobs for hundreds of content moderators in the UK. The company is planning to eliminate 439 jobs in its trust and safety team in the UK capital, with trade unions and online safety experts raising concerns that staff are being displaced by machine-led review.
A company official clarified that staff-based oversight would remain essential, but AI can safeguard staff by removing the most harmful content ahead of it is viewed by humans. TikTok reported a significant reduction in explicit and harmful content reviewed by content reviewers over the previous year due to intervention by its AI tools.
“We think that it’s essential to integrate staff and AI to keep the platform safe,” she said. “We’ll have humans as involved in the system, but we additionally believe it’s very important to reduce exposure to dangerous material as quickly as possible, which is why a lot of the machine support is really helping us work at speed.”
