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TikTok is introducing a fresh option that allows them to lessen the volume of artificial intelligence-produced content appearing in their timelines. This initiative comes as the platform revealed that it currently hosts more than 1 bn content made with AI.

Pilot Phase and Launch

This change is being tested over the following weeks before a widespread launch. This shift comes amid a rise in AI content, spurred by emerging content generation software.

AI Proliferation Online

It has been noted that almost one in 10 of the fastest-growing video streams on a popular video site exclusively feature clips produced artificially. A considerable share of this output is deemed “AI slop”, a term for poor-quality, mass-produced content that is frequently nonsensical or bizarre.

Our research shows that numerous viewers like content made with AI tools, including AI artwork to science explainers, and we intend to give people the ability to see more or less of that, depending on their own preferences,” commented a company executive.

Volume and Proportions

The platform disclosed that there are currently 1.3 billion videos on its app tagged as made with AI. In total, over 100 m pieces of content are added to the platform every day, making AI-generated material a limited portion of its overall inventory.

Customizing Your Feed

Viewers will be in a position to reduce or increase the level of AI-generated videos they watch by accessing the content preference setting in the app and choosing “AI-generated content”. Additional categories that currently be adjusted under the tool encompass current affairs, style, cosmetics, and choreography.

Content Labeling and Policies

TikTok’s policies require creators to tag convincing AI-generated content, and it forbids malicious deepfakes of public figures or critical incidents. Any realistic artificial content that is not labeled can be deleted under its community policies.

Furthermore, the service will from now on add an AI-generated tag to content produced via its own AI tools, or detected by an collaborative effort for recognizing content made by AI. This step is aimed to stop users from attempting to evade the disclosure requirement.

Educational Initiatives

TikTok is also introducing a $2 million AI literacy fund for professionals and organizations to create educational content about using AI responsibly. This program will benefit educational bodies dedicated to teaching programming and robotics.

Content Safety Approach

TikTok has justified its safety measures, following controversy over proposals to make redundant a large number of content moderators in the UK. The company is planning to eliminate a significant number of roles in its content moderation team in its British office, with trade unions and internet security professionals voicing alarm that staff are being displaced by automated systems.

A trust and safety lead stated that staff-based oversight would remain essential, but automated tools can shield workers by eliminating the most distressing content before it gets reviewed by people. The company announced a significant reduction in disturbing and violent content seen by human moderators over the previous year due to reliance on its AI tools.

It is vital to combine staff and AI to maintain a secure environment,” she said. “We’ll have humans as involved in the system, but we additionally believe it’s very important to limit contact with unsafe media as quickly as possible, which is why a lot of the machine support is making a difference process content quickly.”