TikTok is introducing a updated setting that allows them to lessen the amount of AI-created media appearing in their streams. This step comes as the platform disclosed that it presently contains over 1 billion AI-generated clips.
Pilot Phase and Launch
The update is undergoing trials over the next few weeks before a widespread launch. This shift aligns with a surge in content created by AI, spurred by emerging content generation software.
AI Proliferation Online
It has been noted that approximately a tenth of the quickest rising channels on another major platform exclusively feature content made by AI. A considerable share of this content is classified as mass-produced AI material, a phrase for poor-quality, mass-produced content that is typically nonsensical or surreal.
Our research shows that numerous viewers like content made with AI tools, including digital art to science explainers, and we intend to give people the option to adjust the amount of that, based on their own likes,” said a spokesperson.
Scale of AI Content
The platform disclosed that there are currently 1.3bn videos on its app identified as made with AI. In total, over 100 million pieces of content are uploaded to the service each day, making AI-generated material a relatively small portion of its overall inventory.
How to Adjust Settings
Users will be capable of limit or boost the volume of AI content they view by accessing the “manage topic” setting in the app and choosing “AI-generated content”. Additional categories that currently be modified under the setting encompass news, clothing, aesthetics, and dance.
Content Labeling and Policies
The platform’s guidelines require users to label “realistic” AI-generated content, and it forbids malicious deepfakes of public figures or crisis events. Any believable artificial content that is not labeled can be taken down under its community policies.
Additionally, the service will henceforth apply an AI-generated label to content produced via its built-in AI features, or identified by an collaborative effort for spotting AI-generated material. This action is aimed to stop users from attempting to circumvent the labeling process.
AI Literacy Programs
TikTok is furthermore establishing a two million dollar AI literacy fund for experts and organizations to develop learning resources about using AI responsibly. This program will benefit educational bodies focused on educating computer science.
Moderation Strategy
TikTok has justified its moderation strategy, amid controversy over intentions to lay off hundreds of safety staff in Britain. It is set to eliminate a significant number of roles in its trust and safety team in London, with worker representatives and digital protection specialists expressing worry that people are being substituted by machine-led review.
A company official explained that staff-based oversight would remain essential, but AI can protect employees by filtering out the most distressing content before it is viewed by people. The platform stated a notable drop in shocking and graphic content seen by human moderators over the past year due to reliance on its automated systems.
“We think that it’s essential to integrate humans and technology to keep the platform safe,” the executive stated. “We’ll have humans as part of that process, but we further consider it’s very important to minimize viewing of unsafe media as swiftly, which is the area in which a lot of the machine support is proving valuable process content quickly.”
