TikTok is introducing a new feature that permits them to reduce the volume of artificial intelligence-produced videos appearing in their feeds. This initiative comes as the company revealed that it now features more than 1 billion AI videos.
Trial and Implementation
The update is in a pilot phase over the next few weeks before a full-scale rollout. This development coincides with a surge in content created by AI, fueled by new video-generation tools.
AI Proliferation Online
Studies have shown that approximately 10% of the quickest rising video streams on a competing service exclusively feature content made by AI. A significant portion of this content is classified as “AI slop”, a phrase for substandard, factory-style content that is often illogical or dreamlike.
“We know from our community that a lot of users appreciate content produced via AI tools, ranging from computer-generated images to educational videos, and we aim to give people the power to adjust the amount of that, depending on their own choices,” said a company executive.
Volume and Proportions
The service disclosed that there are currently 1.3bn videos on its service identified as made with AI. In total, over 100 million media items are uploaded to the service daily, making AI content a minor part of its complete catalog.
How to Adjust Settings
Viewers will be capable of limit or boost the volume of AI-generated videos they see by using the “manage topic” option in the application and selecting AI-made media. Other topics that are already be adjusted under the setting cover politics, fashion, aesthetics, and dance.
Platform Guidelines
The platform’s guidelines require creators to tag lifelike artificially created content, and it forbids harmful AI impersonations of public figures or emergencies. Any authentic-looking AI video that is without a tag can be removed under its terms of service.
Furthermore, the service will from now on add an AI-generated tag to content made using its proprietary AI systems, or identified by an industry-wide initiative for spotting content made by AI. This action is intended to deter users from seeking to circumvent the tagging system.
Educational Initiatives
TikTok is also introducing a $2m educational fund for specialists and institutions to develop informative material about using AI responsibly. This program will benefit non-profit groups dedicated to teaching programming and robotics.
Content Safety Approach
TikTok has defended its safety measures, during controversy over proposals to cut jobs for a large number of content moderators in Britain. The company is expected to reduce a significant number of roles in its trust and safety department in London, with trade unions and online safety experts voicing alarm that staff are being displaced by AI moderation.
A company official explained that staff-based oversight would still have a role, but automated tools can safeguard staff by filtering out the most distressing content prior to it gets reviewed by humans. TikTok announced a significant reduction in disturbing and violent content seen by safety staff over the past year due to the use of its AI tools.
“We think that it’s essential to integrate humans and technology to ensure user safety,” the executive stated. “We’ll have staff as integral to the approach, but we additionally believe it’s very important to reduce exposure to harmful content as quickly as possible, which is the area in which a significant AI assistance is really helping us operate efficiently.”
