Chinese company ByteDance has announced layoffs affecting hundreds of employees TikTok, mostly in Malaysia (according to a new Reuters report).
The cuts to the popular social media platform are said to be related to the company's shift to AI technology for content moderation.
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TikTok did not disclose the exact number of layoffs, but said fewer than 500 employees were affected. ByteDance currently uses automated detection systems as well as human moderators to review content shared on TikTok. However, the company is now turning more to artificial intelligence and making changes in an effort to strengthen its global operating model for content.
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This strategic shift towards AI-powered content moderation reflects a broader industry trend aimed at improving efficiency and accuracy in this task. By using artificial intelligence, TikTok aims to address challenges related to large volumes of content and the need to respond quickly to inappropriate or harmful material. AI has the ability to process large amounts of data quickly, which can help identify and remove inappropriate content in a timely manner.
This transition, however, raises questions about the future of employment for human employees. As companies increasingly rely on technology, there is concern that humans in certain jobs will be replaced by machines.
See also: IBM closes its R&D department in China – Employee layoffs
It's worth noting that these aren't the only layoffs in 2024. In April, ByteDance laid off more than 250 TikTok employees in Ireland, and in May, reports that it was laying off 1,000 employees in its operations and marketing. Earlier in January, TikTok laid off 60 employees in sales and advertising.
Source: techcrunch.com
