Pinterest has been facing growing frustrations from users who claim that AI-generated content is degrading the overall experience on the platform. Fortunately, Pinterest is now addressing the issue by implementing labels on images they suspect have been created or altered by AI.
Pinterest Tackles its Significant Generative AI Challenge
While generative AI can be entertaining and useful, it can also be misused in various ways, including generating endless streams of images that are passed off as authentic.
These AI-created images are becoming increasingly common across social media platforms, and most aren’t labeled as such, with many users presenting them as real photographs or original human artwork.
This situation is particularly concerning for Pinterest, a platform that relies wholly on images. When numerous uploads are generated by artificial intelligence, without a clear indication that this is the case, it becomes a real problem.
Fortunately, Pinterest is taking strides to combat the rise of what some users are calling “AI slop.” For those unfamiliar, “AI slop” refers to low-quality, mass-produced content generated by artificial intelligence.
In a bid to counteract the prevalence of AI slop on its platform, Pinterest is launching what it calls Gen AI Labels. These labels, as the name implies, will be attached to images recognized as being generated or altered by AI.
According to a post from Pinterest’s Newsroom, the company has been testing these labels for several months and is now ready to introduce them globally.
When Pinterest detects an AI-generated image through its metadata and classifiers, a label will be added. This will notify users that the image is “AI Modified” whenever they click on a pin. Additionally, users can opt to see fewer AI-generated images in their selected topics.
Pinterest Faces Challenges from AI Slop
There’s no denying that the emergence of generative AI has significantly impacted Pinterest. The company insists that AI images constitute a small fraction of what users encounter, but as noted in a Futurism article, some users contend that the influx of AI images, among other issues, has tarnished the Pinterest experience.
Pinterest isn’t alone in grappling with AI slop; anyone still using Facebook has likely encountered an AI-generated image paired with a touching message aimed at evoking a reaction, often racking up hundreds of comments from unsuspecting users.
As artificial intelligence-generated images continue to evolve, they may become harder to distinguish. However, for now, most users can rely on common sense to recognize inauthentic content. And in cases where that falls short, Pinterest’s new labeling system will provide additional clarity.
