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TikTok is introducing a updated setting that permits them to cut down on the amount of artificial intelligence-produced videos appearing in their streams. This move comes as the company revealed that it now features in excess of 1 thousand million content made with AI.

Trial and Implementation

This change is in a pilot phase over the following weeks before a full-scale launch. This development comes amid a increase in AI content, fueled by emerging video-generation tools.

AI Proliferation Online

Studies have shown that almost 10% of the most rapidly expanding video streams on another major platform primarily display clips produced artificially. A considerable share of this content is deemed “AI slop”, a phrase for inferior, factory-style content that is frequently absurd or surreal.

Based on user feedback that a lot of users enjoy content created using AI tools, from AI artwork to informative clips, and we intend to offer the community the power to adjust the amount of that, according to their own preferences,” stated a platform representative.

Volume and Proportions

The platform shared that there are now over a billion videos on its app tagged as made with AI. Collectively, more than 100 m videos are uploaded to the app each day, making clips made by AI a relatively small percentage of its total content library.

User Control Features

Users will be capable of limit or boost the volume of AI-generated videos they see by opening the “manage topic” option in the app and choosing the AI content topic. Other topics that can already be adjusted under the filter include current affairs, style, cosmetics, and dance.

AI Disclosure Rules

The platform’s rules require creators to identify “realistic” AI-made content, and it prohibits harmful AI impersonations of public figures or critical incidents. Any realistic AI video that is without a tag can be taken down under its user guidelines.

Additionally, the platform will henceforth add an “AI-made” watermark to content created with its own AI tools, or detected by an industry-wide initiative for recognizing AI-generated material. This step is intended to deter users from attempting to evade the disclosure requirement.

Responsible AI Funding

The platform is also launching a $2m educational fund for professionals and organizations to create learning resources about using AI responsibly. This program will assist educational bodies specializing in teaching computer science.

Moderation Strategy

TikTok has justified its safety measures, amid discussion over intentions to cut jobs for hundreds of safety staff in the United Kingdom. The company is planning to cut 439 jobs in its user protection division in its British office, with labor groups and digital protection specialists raising concerns that staff are being displaced by machine-led review.

A trust and safety lead stated that people-led review would still have a role, but AI can protect employees by eliminating the most graphic content prior to it gets reviewed by people. The platform announced a significant reduction in disturbing and violent content reviewed by safety staff over the past year due to reliance on its automated systems.

It is vital to balance people and machines to ensure user safety,” the executive stated. “We’ll have staff as integral to the approach, but we also think it’s very important to limit contact with unsafe media as swiftly, which is why a lot of the machine support is really helping us work at speed.”