TikTok is introducing a new feature that allows them to cut down on the amount of AI-created media appearing in their timelines. This initiative comes as the service disclosed that it now features more than 1 thousand million AI videos.
Trial and Implementation
The update is in a pilot phase over the following weeks before a widespread launch. This development coincides with a increase in AI-generated material, spurred by new AI video creators.
AI Proliferation Online
Recent reports that almost a tenth of the fastest-growing video streams on a popular video site primarily display content made by AI. A considerable share of this output is considered “AI slop”, a phrase for inferior, factory-style content that is typically nonsensical or surreal.
Based on user feedback that many people enjoy content produced via AI tools, from AI artwork to science explainers, and we aim to give people the power to increase or decrease of that, based on their own choices,” said a company executive.
Volume and Proportions
The platform announced that there are currently 1.3 billion videos on its service tagged as artificially created. In total, more than 100 million videos are added to the platform every day, making AI content a minor percentage of its complete catalog.
How to Adjust Settings
Members will be able to decrease or raise the volume of artificial media they watch by accessing the “manage topic” setting in the application and picking AI-made media. Additional categories that can already be controlled under the tool cover politics, fashion, cosmetics, and dance.
Platform Guidelines
TikTok’s policies mandate users to identify “realistic” artificially created content, and it bans harmful fake videos of celebrities or crisis events. Any realistic AI video that is not labeled can be deleted under its terms of service.
In addition, the platform will henceforth apply an artificially created label to content produced via its proprietary AI systems, or identified by an collaborative effort for recognizing content made by AI. This action is designed to deter users from attempting to bypass the labeling process.
Responsible AI Funding
TikTok is additionally establishing a $2m educational fund for experts and organizations to produce educational content about using AI responsibly. This initiative will benefit non-profit groups focused on training coding and technology.
Content Safety Approach
The platform has supported its content review process, amid controversy over plans to cut jobs for numerous safety staff in the UK. TikTok is planning to cut 439 jobs in its trust and safety team in its British office, with trade unions and digital protection specialists voicing alarm that people are being substituted by machine-led review.
A trust and safety lead clarified that staff-based oversight would remain essential, but artificial intelligence can safeguard staff by eliminating the most graphic content prior to it is viewed by staff. TikTok reported a 76% decrease in explicit and harmful content reviewed by content reviewers over the last 12 months due to reliance on its machine learning processes.
It is vital to balance people and machines to maintain a secure environment,” the official commented. “We’ll have people as involved in the system, but we further consider it’s extremely critical to minimize viewing of dangerous material as rapidly, which is the area in which a significant AI assistance is proving valuable process content quickly.”
