TikTok is introducing a updated setting that allows them to cut down on the volume of AI-created content appearing in their feeds. This initiative comes as the company revealed that it now features over 1 bn AI videos.
Pilot Phase and Launch
The update is being tested over the next few weeks before a widespread rollout. This advancement comes amid a increase in content created by AI, driven by emerging AI video creators.
The Broader AI Trend
Studies have shown that almost a tenth of the fastest-growing channels on a popular video site exclusively feature content made by AI. A significant portion of this content is classified as mass-produced AI material, a label for inferior, bulk-generated content that is frequently illogical or dreamlike.
Our research shows that a lot of users appreciate content created using AI tools, ranging from digital art to educational videos, and we want to provide users the option to see more or less of that, depending on their own preferences,” commented a company executive.
AI on the Platform
TikTok shared that there are currently over a billion videos on its app identified as made with AI. Overall, in excess of 100 m pieces of content are added to the platform each day, making clips made by AI a minor portion of its total content library.
User Control Features
Members will be able to limit or boost the level of AI-generated videos they see by opening the “manage topic” feature in the platform and choosing “AI-generated content”. Other topics that currently be adjusted under the filter include current affairs, style, cosmetics, and movement.
Content Labeling and Policies
The platform’s guidelines mandate content makers to tag lifelike artificially created content, and it prohibits malicious AI impersonations of celebrities or critical incidents. Any realistic AI video that is without a tag can be taken down under its community policies.
Additionally, the platform will henceforth attach an “AI-made” label to content made using its built-in AI features, or flagged by an industry-wide initiative for identifying content made by AI. This step is intended to help prevent users from seeking to bypass the labeling process.
AI Literacy Programs
The company is also introducing a $2m AI literacy fund for specialists and groups to create learning resources about ethical AI use. This program will support non-profit groups specializing in training computer science.
Content Safety Approach
The platform has supported its content review process, following debate over plans to make redundant hundreds of content moderators in the United Kingdom. TikTok is expected to eliminate hundreds of positions in its trust and safety department in its British office, with worker representatives and digital protection specialists raising concerns that humans are being replaced by machine-led review.
A senior executive clarified that people-led review would remain essential, but artificial intelligence can shield workers by filtering out the most graphic content ahead of it is viewed by people. The company stated a notable drop in shocking and graphic content handled by safety staff over the last 12 months due to the use of its automated systems.
We believe it is crucial to balance humans and technology to maintain a secure environment,” the official commented. “We’ll have staff as integral to the approach, but we additionally believe it’s very important to minimize viewing of unsafe media as rapidly, which is where a lot of the machine support is really helping us process content quickly.”
