ByteDance lays off hundreds of TikTok employees over AI content shift

ByteDance’s TikTok is laying off hundreds of workers, mostly in Malaysia, according to Reuters. The cuts come as the social network increasingly turns to AI to moderate content.

Although TikTok did not provide an exact number, it said less than 500 people were affected.

The company said it is making the changes as part of its efforts to strengthen its global operating model for content rating, according to Reuters. TikTok currently uses both automated detection and human moderators to check content shared on the social network.

TikTok has not yet responded to TechCrunch’s request for comment.

The latest round of cuts on the social media platform follows a series of cuts made earlier this year. In April, the company cut more than 250 jobs in Ireland, and in May reports revealed that it was laying off around 1,000 workers in its operations and sales teams. In January, TikTok laid off 60 employees in sales and marketing.