Pinterest says it’s finally going to do something about the AI slop that’s taken over its platform.
After an increasing volume of complaints, the social networking and image pinboarding site announced Wednesday a plan to begin labeling AI-generated and AI-modified images. It will also introduce a new option that allows users to reduce the number of generative AI Pins they see.
The new features are an indication of how serious a threat generative AI is to platforms built on top of user-generated content, crowdsourcing, and social sharing. AI technology has made it possible for bad actors to flood these platforms with fake images that drown out the human-made content people came to see, devaluing the overall experience. AI-generated Pins and other low-quality AI content — often referred to as “AI slop” — have created a backlash among Pinterest’s loyal customer base.
Now, Pinterest says it will help users more easily identify what’s AI and what’s not.
When users click on an image Pin in closeup, they’ll see an “AI modified” label in the bottom left corner. The company says it will analyze the image’s metadata to help determine what’s AI, but has also developed its own system of classifiers that will automatically detect AI content that “doesn’t have obvious markers.”
Creators will be able to appeal to Pinterest if their content gets labeled incorrectly, according to the company.
More importantly, Pinterest says it will give users more control over how much AI content they see in an upcoming feature.
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When launched, users will be able to select a “see fewer” option on Gen AI Pins in certain categories — like beauty and art — that are prone to being overrun with AI content. Over time, it will expand this option to other categories, as well.
When available, the option will be found in the three-dot menu on the bottom right of a Pin. Clicking this will send a signal to Pinterest’s systems to recommend less AI content to the users, the company explains in a blog post.
Pinterest didn’t say when the new control setting was launching — only that it was arriving “soon.”
For a site like Pinterest, which attracted users to browse and save aspirational images in areas like fashion, home decor, travel, art, recipes, DIY, beauty, parenting tips, and more, a deluge of AI content could actually kill the site. Some users have already declared the site dead due to the AI imagery that’s taken over.
On Reddit, for instance, users have been protesting the encroachment of AI slop on Pinterest for months, noting a huge uptick in this low-value content. They say that AI images found their way across the site, whether they were browsing content, searching, or viewing board suggestions. The media also documented the decline in articles pondering if AI has already ruined the platform or if it can be fixed.
Pinterest says it plans to introduce more tools in the months ahead to build upon its AI work, adding that it still believes Gen AI can be inspirational, when thoughtfully implemented.
“As people encounter AI-generated content on Pinterest, we are empowering our users to make more informed choices about the content they see,” CTO Matt Madrigal said in a statement. “Gen AI content on Pinterest should enhance users’ ability to discover and act on their inspiration, and we are intentionally approaching this new landscape in a thoughtful way that benefits everyone on Pinterest.”