Users will soon have a new feature that allows them to lessen the volume of artificial intelligence-produced media appearing in their timelines. This move comes as the service announced that it presently contains over 1 bn AI-generated clips.
Pilot Phase and Launch
This change is undergoing trials over the coming weeks before a full-scale launch. This development coincides with a increase in content created by AI, spurred by new AI video creators.
The Broader AI Trend
Studies have shown that nearly one in 10 of the most rapidly expanding video streams on another major platform primarily display AI-generated videos. A considerable share of this material is classified as “AI slop”, a phrase for inferior, factory-style content that is frequently absurd or surreal.
“We know from our community that many people appreciate content produced via AI tools, including digital art to science explainers, and we aim to offer the community the ability to adjust the amount of that, according to their own likes,” said a platform representative.
Volume and Proportions
TikTok disclosed that there are now 1.3bn videos on its service identified as made with AI. Overall, over 100 million pieces of content are added to the service daily, making AI content a limited portion of its complete catalog.
User Control Features
Users will be in a position to decrease or raise the level of AI-generated videos they view by accessing the topic control option in the app and picking AI-made media. Further subjects that can already be controlled under the filter encompass current affairs, style, cosmetics, and movement.
Content Labeling and Policies
TikTok’s rules require content makers to identify convincing AI-generated content, and it prohibits dangerous fake videos of celebrities or emergencies. Any authentic-looking AI-generated clip that is not labeled can be removed under its terms of service.
Additionally, the app will now attach an “AI-made” tag to content created with its own AI tools, or flagged by an cross-platform project for identifying AI-generated material. This measure is designed to help prevent users from attempting to evade the labeling process.
Educational Initiatives
TikTok is additionally establishing a two million dollar awareness program for professionals and institutions to develop learning resources about responsible artificial intelligence. This program will support non-profit groups dedicated to training computer science.
Platform Protection
TikTok has supported its content review process, amid controversy over proposals to make redundant a large number of content moderators in the UK. TikTok is set to reduce a significant number of roles in its content moderation department in its British office, with worker representatives and online safety experts raising concerns that people are being substituted by machine-led review.
A senior executive clarified that human moderation would still have a role, but automated tools can shield workers by eliminating the most distressing content ahead of it gets reviewed by humans. The company stated a 76% decrease in shocking and graphic content seen by safety staff over the last 12 months due to the use of its AI tools.
It is vital to combine people and machines to keep the platform safe,” she said. “We’ll have humans as integral to the approach, but we also think it’s very important to reduce exposure to unsafe media as rapidly, which is why a significant AI assistance is proving valuable work at speed.”
