TikTok is introducing a new feature that allows them to reduce the quantity of AI-created media appearing in their feeds. This move comes as the company revealed that it currently hosts more than 1 billion AI-generated clips.
Pilot Phase and Launch
The new functionality is in a pilot phase over the next few weeks before a full-scale launch. This shift aligns with a surge in AI-generated material, spurred by new AI video creators.
AI Content on Other Platforms
Recent reports that almost 10% of the fastest-growing content creators on another major platform exclusively feature content made by AI. A large amount of this material is classified as low-quality AI content, a term for poor-quality, bulk-generated content that is typically nonsensical or dreamlike.
Based on user feedback that numerous viewers appreciate content produced via AI tools, from computer-generated images to informative clips, and we want to give people the option to see more or less of that, according to their own choices,” said a company executive.
Volume and Proportions
The platform announced that there are currently 1.3 billion videos on its app identified as artificially created. In total, over 100 m media items are submitted to the app every day, making AI content a relatively small part of its overall inventory.
User Control Features
Viewers will be able to decrease or raise the amount of AI-generated videos they see by opening the content preference feature in the app and choosing “AI-generated content”. Additional categories that are already be adjusted under the filter encompass politics, clothing, beauty, and movement.
Content Labeling and Policies
Its guidelines require users to label “realistic” AI-generated content, and it prohibits harmful fake videos of public figures or critical incidents. Any authentic-looking artificial content that is without a tag can be removed under its user guidelines.
In addition, the platform will henceforth attach an AI-generated watermark to content produced via its own AI tools, or detected by an cross-platform project for recognizing content made by AI. This measure is designed to stop users from trying to evade the labeling process.
AI Literacy Programs
TikTok is additionally launching a $2 million educational fund for experts and organizations to produce informative material about using AI responsibly. This project will benefit non-profit groups specializing in training computer science.
Moderation Strategy
TikTok has supported its moderation strategy, amid debate over plans to lay off hundreds of review team members in the United Kingdom. TikTok is set to cut hundreds of positions in its trust and safety division in its British office, with worker representatives and internet security professionals raising concerns that humans are being replaced by automated systems.
A company official explained that staff-based oversight would continue to be important, but automated tools can safeguard staff by eliminating the most graphic content before it has to be seen by people. The company reported a 76% decrease in disturbing and violent content reviewed by human moderators over the last 12 months due to reliance on its automated systems.
“We think that it’s essential to integrate people and machines to ensure user safety,” she said. “We’ll have humans as integral to the approach, but we also think it’s highly necessary to minimize viewing of dangerous material as rapidly, which is the area in which a lot of the machine support is proving valuable operate efficiently.”
