TikTok is introducing a new feature that enables them to lessen the volume of AI-made videos appearing in their timelines. This move comes as the platform disclosed that it presently contains over 1 billion AI videos.
Testing and Rollout
The new functionality is being tested over the coming weeks before a global release. This development comes amid a surge in content created by AI, fueled by new AI video creators.
The Broader AI Trend
It has been noted that nearly 10% of the fastest-growing channels on a competing service only show clips produced artificially. A large amount of this content is considered “AI slop”, a term for inferior, bulk-generated content that is often nonsensical or bizarre.
Based on user feedback that a lot of users like content made with AI tools, from digital art to informative clips, and we intend to give people the ability to see more or less of that, according to their own preferences,” stated a spokesperson.
Volume and Proportions
The platform disclosed that there are presently over a billion videos on its service identified as artificially created. Overall, more than 100 million media items are submitted to the service each day, making AI-generated material a relatively small percentage of its total content library.
User Control Features
Members will be able to limit or boost the volume of artificial media they see by opening the “manage topic” setting in the application and picking the AI content topic. Other topics that can already be modified under the filter cover current affairs, clothing, cosmetics, and choreography.
Platform Guidelines
Its rules mandate users to label “realistic” AI-generated content, and it bans malicious AI impersonations of celebrities or critical incidents. Any authentic-looking AI video that is without a tag can be deleted under its community policies.
Additionally, the app will now apply an AI-generated watermark to content created with its built-in AI features, or detected by an collaborative effort for spotting content made by AI. This measure is intended to help prevent users from trying to bypass the labeling process.
AI Literacy Programs
The platform is also launching a $2 million educational fund for experts and organizations to produce learning resources about ethical AI use. This project will assist educational bodies focused on training computer science.
Content Safety Approach
TikTok has supported its safety measures, amid debate over intentions to make redundant a large number of review team members in the UK. TikTok is expected to cut 439 jobs in its user protection division in London, with worker representatives and internet security professionals raising concerns that people are being substituted by automated systems.
A senior executive clarified that staff-based oversight would still have a role, but automated tools can protect employees by removing the most harmful content ahead of it gets reviewed by staff. TikTok announced a notable drop in shocking and graphic content reviewed by human moderators over the last 12 months due to reliance on its machine learning processes.
“We think that it’s essential to combine people and machines to keep the platform safe,” the official commented. “We’ll have humans as integral to the approach, but we additionally believe it’s highly necessary to limit contact with dangerous material as rapidly, which is the area in which a lot of the machine support is making a difference work at speed.”
