TikTok is launching a new set of labels for videos that were made with or significantly edited by artificial intelligence, which is intended to help creators better comply with a "synthetic and manipulated media" policy TikTok refreshed earlier this year.
TikTok intends to release educational videos and resources in the coming weeks, which should explain when using the AI-generated tag is appropriate, among other things.
TikTok also says it improved its algorithm when it comes to automatically tagging videos as AI-generated, and will also rename TikTok AI effects to specifically state that they use AI.
The social media giant consulted a number of experts, including MIT's Dr. David G Rand, who is using the platform to study how viewers perceive different AI labels. "It's really important that platforms develop effective labeling policies. We have found that across different demographic groups globally, the term 'AI generated' is widely understood as applying to content that is generated by AI," Rand says.
This is the third major change for TikTok this year regarding synthetic media. Along with the aforementioned policy changes, TikTok also committed to following the Responsible Practices for Synthetic Media guidelines alongside Google, Adobe, OpenAI, and other large tech companies. The company also partnered with Digital Moment to host roundtables where creators can share their perspective on AI-generated content.
TikTok is one of the first large social media services to bring AI image filters to the masses alongside Snapchat. The two services had the market cornered until ChatGPT took AI awareness to the next level. Many creators on TikTok use AI filters to create content, so frequent fliers can expect to see the AI-generated label fairly soon. The company says it will begin testing AI-generated labels this week.