TikTok Grants Viewers Authority to Limit AI-Generated Content in Timelines

Users will soon have a updated setting that allows them to reduce the quantity of artificial intelligence-produced videos appearing in their streams. This move comes as the service announced that it presently contains over 1 billion AI-generated clips.

Trial and Implementation

This change is in a pilot phase over the coming weeks before a global rollout. This advancement coincides with a surge in AI-generated material, spurred by emerging content generation software.

The Broader AI Trend

Studies have shown that nearly a tenth of the most rapidly expanding video streams on another major platform primarily display clips produced artificially. A significant portion of this content is considered low-quality AI content, a phrase for inferior, bulk-generated content that is often illogical or bizarre.

“We know from our community that numerous viewers enjoy content created using AI tools, from digital art to science explainers, and we aim to offer the community the option to see more or less of that, according to their own likes,” commented a spokesperson.

AI on the Platform

The platform disclosed that there are presently over a billion videos on its network tagged as artificially created. In total, in excess of 100 m media items are uploaded to the app daily, making AI-generated material a minor portion of its total content library.

Customizing Your Feed

Members will be capable of decrease or raise the volume of AI content they watch by using the “manage topic” setting in the application and picking “AI-generated content”. Other topics that are already be modified under the tool include politics, style, beauty, and movement.

Platform Guidelines

Its guidelines oblige content makers to identify lifelike artificially created content, and it bans malicious fake videos of celebrities or critical incidents. Any believable AI-generated clip that is unmarked can be removed under its terms of service.

Additionally, the app will now apply an AI-generated watermark to content created with its built-in AI features, or detected by an industry-wide initiative for spotting artificial media. This step is aimed to help prevent users from attempting to circumvent the tagging system.

Educational Initiatives

TikTok is additionally launching a $2m AI literacy fund for professionals and institutions to develop informative material about responsible artificial intelligence. This project will support educational bodies specializing in educating coding and technology.

Content Safety Approach

TikTok has justified its safety measures, following debate over intentions to lay off a large number of review team members in Britain. TikTok is planning to reduce 439 jobs in its content moderation team in London, with trade unions and digital protection specialists voicing alarm that people are being substituted by automated systems.

A company official explained that human moderation would still have a role, but automated tools can protect employees by filtering out the most distressing content ahead of it is viewed by people. The company announced a 76% decrease in explicit and harmful content reviewed by human moderators over the last 12 months due to the use of its automated systems.

“We think that it’s essential to combine staff and AI to ensure user safety,” the executive stated. “We’ll have staff as part of that process, but we further consider it’s very important to limit contact with harmful content as rapidly, which is why a extensive automated help is making a difference process content quickly.”
Robert Allen
Robert Allen

A software engineer and tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and startup ecosystems across Europe.