Pinterest has, for some time now, been facing complaints that AI slop is ruining the user experience. However, thankfully, Pinterest is now tackling the problem of AI slop by labeling images it suspects are generated by or modified with AI.
Pinterest Tackles Its Big Gen AI Problem
As fun, exciting, and useful as generative AI can be, it can also be misused in plenty of ways. One is using generative AI to create endless AI images, which can then be passed off as real.
AI images can be seen everywhere now, but especially on social media platforms. And most AI images are not labeled as such, with people passing them off as either a real photo or original artwork created by a human.
This is especially problematic for Pinterest, which is built solely around images. When many of thoseimages are generated by artificial intelligence, but the people uploading them decline to admit as much, that’s an issue.
Thankfully, Pinterest is taking action against the rise of AI slop, which some users have complained about for months. AI slop, for those unfamiliar with the term, is low-quality, mass-produced content generated by artificial intelligence.
To fight back against the AI slop that has become a noticeable presence on the site, Pinterest is introducing what it calls Gen AI Labels. As the name suggests, these labels are attached to images identified as being generated or modified by AI.
In a post on thePinterest Newsroom, Pinterest explains how it has been experimenting with these labels for the past several months. And they’re now finally ready to be rolled out globally.
When Pinterest’s systems identify an AI image through metadata and classifiers, a label will be attached to it. This will inform viewers that it’s “AI Modified” when they click on an image pin. Users will also be able to opt to see fewer AI pins in their chosen topics.
AI Slop Is Ruining What Makes Pinterest Great
There’s no doubt that the rise of generative AI has impacted Pinterest. It maintains that AI images are a small part of what users see, but asFuturismexplains, some users feel that AI images have, alongside other issues, ruined Pinterest.
Pinterest is far from alone in being affected by AI slop, however. Anyone still using Facebook will have seen an AI image accompanied by some heartwarming message designed to get a reaction. And there will be hundreds of comments underneath it from people who have fallen for the ploy.
Images created by artificial intelligence are going to get more difficult to detect over time. But for now, at least, most people should be able to see through the fakery by using common sense and logic. And if those fail you, labels such as the ones Pinterest is introducing will help.
