Unveiling TikTok's New AI Transparency Measures

TikTok to label more AI generated content

TikTok has recently announced its plans to expand its labelling of AI-generated content within its popular short-form video app. The platform will now automatically label content that has been generated by AI on third-party platforms, in response to demands from copyright owners, lawmakers, and various industries. This initiative is a part of TikTok's increased commitment to AI transparency, enabled by its membership in the Coalition For Content Provenance And Authenticity.

Transparency in AI-generated content

The clear labelling of AI-generated material has been a growing demand from the music community, politicians, news organizations, and other stakeholders. This move aims to provide users and the music industry with insight into content that is entirely AI-generated. Concerns about AI-generated content exacerbating fake news issues and being used to manipulate elections have further fueled the need for transparency.

Automatic labelling process

TikTok has been labeling content created using its own AI tools, with creators required to manually add labels to their AI-generated content. However, the platform will now extend this labelling to content generated on other platforms by utilizing digital watermarks. This expansion is a result of TikTok's involvement in the Coalition For Content Provenance And Authenticity, which has developed a Content Credentials specification.

Regulatory implications

As lawmakers worldwide move to regulate AI technologies, the labelling of AI-generated content is expected to become a requirement under new regulations. The recent EU AI Act mandates that providers of AI models generating synthetic content mark their outputs in a machine-readable format as artificially generated or manipulated. With TikTok facing political challenges in different regions, being proactive in labelling generative AI outputs is crucial.

Membership in the Coalition For Content Provenance And Authenticity includes tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Adobe, along with music industry heavyweights like the Recording Industry Association Of America, Universal Music, and Sony Corp. While the coalition's efforts are commendable, there is still room for growth in membership among popular AI platforms.

By enhancing the transparency of AI-generated content, TikTok aims to address concerns regarding misinformation and maintain trust with its users and stakeholders. The platform's proactive approach to labelling AI content sets a precedent for other tech companies to follow suit and prioritize transparency in their AI practices.