Pinterest users can now limit the number of artificial intelligence (AI) generated images they encounter on the platform, following a wave of criticism over the proliferation of such content.
The new feature allows people to adjust their preferences in the app’s settings, specifically on the “Modify Your Recommendations” tab, to turn AI content on or off in different categories.
The move comes as users have increasingly expressed frustration, demanding a better balance between human-made content and AI on the popular virtual vision page and Link to Buy app.
The feature, which is currently available for Android and desktop users, is expected to roll out to iOS devices in the coming weeks.
Pinterest said these new tools are designed to give its community more control over its in-app experience and address concerns about the growing prevalence of AI-generated content.
An anonymous reviewer on the Apple Store wrote earlier this year that AI pins are cluttering Pinterest and making it impossible to find real stories, real images that people took.
Another said the content was “out of control,” adding: “I’d love to see Pinterest stand up for the artists, designers, and content creators who use the space by suppressing AI-generated posts.”
Matt Madrigal, CTO at Pinterest, said: “With our new GenAI controls, we’re enabling people to personalize their Pinterest experience more than ever before – striking the right balance between human creativity and AI innovation, and ensuring that each feed truly reflects what inspires them most.”
According to Pinterest, more than half of all online content is now generated using artificial intelligence.
Generative AI is a more advanced form of automation whereby machines can create something completely new based on a large set of data.
With the technology behind chatbots like Chat GPT being able to create content like posts and images for social media, it’s quickly becoming a bigger part of people’s online experiences.
