Pinterest says it is finally going to do something about the AI slop that has taken over the platform.
After the volume of complaints increased, social networking and image pinboard sites announced plans on Wednesday to begin labeling AI-modified images generated by AI. It also introduces a new option that can reduce the number of generated AI pins that users see.
The new feature shows how serious threat generation AI is to platforms built on user-generated content, crowdsourcing, and social sharing. AI technology has allowed bad actors to own human content that people came to see, flooding these platforms with fake images that underestimate the overall experience. Pins and other low-quality AI content (often called “AI Slops”) have created a backlash among Pinterest’s loyal customer base.
Now, Pinterest says it helps users to more easily identify what AI is and what it doesn’t.
When the user clicks on the close-up image pin, the “AI Changed” label appears in the lower left corner. The company analyzes image metadata to determine what AI is, but it also develops its own classifier system that automatically detects AI content that “does not have any obvious markers.”
According to the company, creators can appeal to Pinterest if content is labeled incorrectly.
More importantly, Pinterest says it will allow users to have more control over the amount of AI content to be displayed in future features.
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Once launched, users can select the “Lesser” option for Gen AI Pins in certain categories (such as beauty and art) that tend to overrun with AI content. Over time, this option will also expand to other categories.
If available, options are in the 3-dot menu at the bottom right of the pin. Clicking on this will send a signal to your Pinterest system and recommend users to have less AI content, as we will explain in a blog post.
Pinterest did not say when the new control settings were up.
For sites like Pinterest, users have browsed and saved ambitious images in areas such as fashion, home decoration, travel, art, DIY, beauty, and parenting tips. Some users have already declared that the site is dead because the AI images have been taken over.
On Reddit, for example, users have been protesting AI slop invasion on Pinterest for months, noting a massive increase in this low-value content. They say they found their way across the site, whether the AI images are browsing content, searching, or viewing board suggestions. The media has also documented a decline in articles pondering whether AI is already ruining the platform or whether it can fix it.
Pinterest plans to introduce more tools in the coming months to build AI work, adding that it believes it can be inspiring when AI Generals are thoughtfully implemented.
“When people encounter AI-generated content on Pinterest, they can make more informed choices about the content they see,” CTO Matt Madrigal said in a statement. “Pinterest’s Gen AI content should enhance your users’ ability to discover inspiration and act on them. We are deliberately approaching this new landscape in thoughtful ways that benefit everyone on Pinterest.”