TikTok is introducing a new feature that enables them to reduce the quantity of AI-made videos appearing in their timelines. This initiative comes as the service announced that it currently hosts over 1 bn content made with AI.
Testing and Rollout
The new functionality is undergoing trials over the coming weeks before a widespread rollout. This shift comes amid a increase in AI-generated material, spurred by new content generation software.
AI Proliferation Online
Recent reports that nearly 10% of the quickest rising channels on another major platform exclusively feature AI-generated videos. A considerable share of this output is classified as “AI slop”, a phrase for poor-quality, bulk-generated content that is often absurd or bizarre.
“We know from our community that many people like content created using AI tools, ranging from AI artwork to educational videos, and we want to offer the community the power to see more or less of that, according to their own choices,” commented a company executive.
Volume and Proportions
The service shared that there are currently 1.3bn videos on its app labeled as made with AI. Collectively, in excess of 100 m pieces of content are uploaded to the app each day, making AI content a minor portion of its overall inventory.
How to Adjust Settings
Members will be able to decrease or raise the amount of AI content they watch by opening the content preference feature in the platform and choosing AI-made media. Other topics that can already be adjusted under the tool encompass current affairs, style, cosmetics, and movement.
AI Disclosure Rules
The platform’s rules oblige creators to tag convincing AI-made content, and it forbids malicious deepfakes of public figures or critical incidents. Any believable AI-generated clip that is without a tag can be taken down under its terms of service.
Additionally, the platform will henceforth add an “AI-made” label to content produced via its built-in AI features, or identified by an collaborative effort for identifying artificial media. This measure is intended to help prevent users from seeking to evade the labeling process.
Responsible AI Funding
TikTok is additionally introducing a two million dollar educational fund for professionals and institutions to develop educational content about ethical AI use. This initiative will support charitable organizations specializing in educating coding and technology.
Platform Protection
The video-sharing app has defended its content review process, amid debate over intentions to lay off numerous safety staff in the UK. TikTok is set to eliminate hundreds of positions in its user protection team in London, with trade unions and online safety experts expressing worry that people are being substituted by machine-led review.
A senior executive explained that staff-based oversight would still have a role, but AI can protect employees by removing the most distressing content ahead of it gets reviewed by people. TikTok stated a significant reduction in disturbing and violent content reviewed by safety staff over the past year due to the use of its machine learning processes.
“We think that it’s essential to integrate humans and technology to ensure user safety,” the official commented. “We’ll have humans as involved in the system, but we additionally believe it’s very important to reduce exposure to unsafe media as rapidly, which is the area in which a extensive automated help is making a difference work at speed.”
