TikTok is introducing a updated setting that allows them to reduce the amount of AI-made videos appearing in their feeds. This initiative comes as the company revealed that it now features more than 1 thousand million AI-generated clips.
This change is undergoing trials over the next few weeks before a global launch. This development comes amid a increase in AI-generated material, fueled by new video-generation tools.
It has been noted that approximately a tenth of the quickest rising channels on another major platform primarily display clips produced artificially. A large amount of this output is classified as “AI slop”, a label for poor-quality, bulk-generated content that is often absurd or surreal.
Based on user feedback that a lot of users enjoy content produced via AI tools, from computer-generated images to informative clips, and we aim to offer the community the ability to see more or less of that, depending on their own likes,” stated a spokesperson.
The service shared that there are currently over a billion videos on its network identified as AI-generated. Collectively, more than 100 mn media items are added to the app every day, making clips made by AI a relatively small part of its overall inventory.
Users will be able to limit or boost the volume of AI-generated videos they view by opening the topic control option in the app and selecting the AI content topic. Further subjects that are already be controlled under the tool cover current affairs, style, aesthetics, and movement.
Its rules mandate users to label convincing AI-made content, and it bans malicious AI impersonations of celebrities or critical incidents. Any authentic-looking AI-generated clip that is not labeled can be taken down under its terms of service.
Furthermore, the service will from now on attach an artificially created watermark to content made using its own AI tools, or identified by an collaborative effort for identifying artificial media. This measure is designed to stop users from trying to circumvent the tagging system.
TikTok is additionally launching a two million dollar educational fund for specialists and organizations to create informative material about ethical AI use. This initiative will support educational bodies dedicated to educating coding and technology.
The video-sharing app has defended its content review process, amid controversy over proposals to make redundant a large number of content moderators in the UK. It is planning to reduce 439 jobs in its trust and safety department in London, with worker representatives and internet security professionals raising concerns that staff are being displaced by machine-led review.
A trust and safety lead stated that human moderation would remain essential, but automated tools can protect employees by filtering out the most graphic content before it has to be seen by people. TikTok reported a significant reduction in disturbing and violent content reviewed by content reviewers over the last 12 months due to intervention by its automated systems.
We believe it is crucial to integrate people and machines to ensure user safety,” the official commented. “We’ll have people as involved in the system, but we further consider it’s very important to minimize viewing of dangerous material as swiftly, which is why a significant AI assistance is really helping us work at speed.”
Eva de Vries is a passionate book lover and local writer from Eindhoven.
