TikTok is introducing a new feature that allows them to reduce the volume of AI-created media appearing in their feeds. This move comes as the service announced that it now features in excess of 1 bn AI-generated clips.
Pilot Phase and Launch
The new functionality is being tested over the next few weeks before a full-scale release. This shift comes amid a surge in AI content, driven by emerging content generation software.
AI Proliferation Online
Studies have shown that almost 10% of the fastest-growing video streams on a competing service exclusively feature clips produced artificially. A significant portion of this material is classified as “AI slop”, a phrase for poor-quality, factory-style content that is frequently nonsensical or surreal.
“We know from our community that numerous viewers enjoy content created using AI tools, including AI artwork to science explainers, and we aim to give people the power to adjust the amount of that, according to their own likes,” commented a platform representative.
Volume and Proportions
The platform disclosed that there are presently over a billion videos on its service identified as artificially created. In total, over 100 mn media items are added to the service each day, making AI-generated material a minor portion of its complete catalog.
User Control Features
Members will be able to limit or boost the amount of artificial media they view by opening the content preference setting in the app and choosing AI-made media. Additional categories that can already be adjusted under the filter cover news, style, cosmetics, and movement.
Content Labeling and Policies
Its rules require content makers to tag “realistic” AI-made content, and it forbids dangerous AI impersonations of well-known individuals or crisis events. Any believable AI-generated clip that is unmarked can be deleted under its community policies.
In addition, the service will now apply an AI-generated tag to content made using its built-in AI features, or flagged by an collaborative effort for spotting content made by AI. This action is intended to help prevent users from attempting to bypass the disclosure requirement.
Educational Initiatives
TikTok is furthermore establishing a $2 million AI literacy fund for professionals and groups to develop informative material about responsible artificial intelligence. This project will support non-profit groups specializing in educating programming and robotics.
Platform Protection
The video-sharing app has supported its safety measures, during controversy over proposals to lay off a large number of safety staff in Britain. The company is planning to eliminate hundreds of positions in its user protection team in the UK capital, with labor groups and online safety experts voicing alarm that staff are being displaced by AI moderation.
A trust and safety lead clarified that people-led review would still have a role, but AI can safeguard staff by filtering out the most distressing content ahead of it gets reviewed by staff. TikTok reported a significant reduction in disturbing and violent content seen by safety staff over the last 12 months due to intervention by its machine learning processes.
It is vital to integrate staff and AI to keep the platform safe,” the official commented. “We’ll have staff as part of that process, but we also think it’s very important to minimize viewing of unsafe media as rapidly, which is where a significant AI assistance is proving valuable process content quickly.”
