TikTok Lays Off Staff–To Replace Them with AI

TikTok is laying off hundreds of employees globally as part of a shift towards AI-powered content moderation. The company confirmed that it is letting go of "hundreds" of staff, with reports indicating that around 500 employees in Malaysia are affected. This decision is part of TikTok's strategy to enhance its global operating model for content moderation. The layoffs were communicated to employees via email. TikTok has previously reduced its workforce in marketing and operations earlier this year. The platform currently employs a combination of human and automated moderation, where AI scans videos for inappropriate content, while human moderators handle appeals. However, human moderators have faced challenging working conditions, including low pay and high performance expectations. Reports indicate that moderators are often required to review disturbing content and are under pressure to meet strict video review quotas. TikTok has stated that it aims to create a supportive working environment for its employees, but many moderators have expressed concerns about the lack of genuine psychological support. The company did not provide immediate comments regarding the layoffs.

- TikTok is replacing human moderators with AI, resulting in hundreds of layoffs.

- Approximately 500 employees in Malaysia are among those affected.

- The platform has faced criticism for the working conditions of its human moderators.

- TikTok's moderation strategy combines AI and human oversight.

- The company aims to improve its global content moderation model.