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TIKTOK’S AI DIGITAL AVATAR TOOL MISTAKENLY SHARED WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS
TikTok recently faced a major oversight when a link to an internal version of its new AI digital avatar tool was mistakenly shared without appropriate guardrails. Users were able to create videos that contained inappropriate and harmful content, as reported by CNN. This incident prompted TikTok to quickly take down the problematic version of the tool, while the intended version remains accessible to users.
TIKTOK LAUNCHES SYMPHONY DIGITAL AVATARS FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES
Earlier this week, TikTok unveiled its Symphony Digital Avatars, allowing businesses to create ads using AI-generated avatars resembling paid actors. The tool also features AI-powered dubbing, enabling advertisers to input scripts for the avatars to deliver messages within TikTok’s guidelines. Despite being initially accessible only to users with a TikTok Ads Manager account, a version of the tool was discovered by CNN that allowed anyone with a personal account to experiment with it.
TIKTOK’S RESPONSE TO THE TECHNICAL ERROR
Following the discovery of the internal tool by CNN, TikTok spokesperson Laura Perez acknowledged the "technical error" that enabled a limited number of users to utilize the testing version of the tool for a brief period. TikTok has since rectified the issue to prevent further misuse.
CNN’S EXPERIMENTS WITH THE INTERNAL TOOL
CNN’s exploration of the internal tool led to the creation of videos reciting controversial content, including quotes from Osama bin Laden, a white supremacist slogan, and misinformation about voting dates. These videos lacked a watermark indicating that they were AI-generated, a feature present in the official version of TikTok’s Symphony Digital Avatars.
CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE USE OF TIKTOK’S DIGITAL AVATAR TOOL
While CNN refrained from sharing the videos on TikTok, Perez highlighted that such content would have violated the platform’s policies if uploaded. The incident raises questions about potential misuse of the digital avatar creator and whether TikTok is prepared to address such challenges in the future.
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Remember to stay informed and mindful of the content you interact with on social media platforms like TikTok. Engage responsibly and report any inappropriate or harmful content you encounter.
