TikTok shifts to AI content moderation, lays off hundreds

TikTok is replacing human moderators with AI, leading to the layoff of hundreds of employees globally. This decision by the platform, owned by ByteDance, is part of a strategy to streamline operations and enhance content moderation using AI technology. A significant number of layoffs are occurring in Malaysia, with affected employees being informed via email. The shift comes amidst TikTok's ongoing efforts to consolidate regional operations, having already reduced staffing in marketing and operations earlier in the year. Currently, TikTok employs a combination of human and AI moderation, with AI handling initial scans for inappropriate content. Human moderators review flagged content upon appeal.

However, the role of human moderators has been challenging, with low pay and exposure to distressing content without substantial psychological support. Despite claims from TikTok of promoting a supportive environment, moderators report intense surveillance and demanding workloads, reviewing up to 900 videos daily. The integration of AI aims to alleviate some of these challenges while maintaining community safety.

Source: PCMag