TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, is laying off hundreds of employees as part of the restructuring of its content-moderation operations.
The layoffs are part of a broader plan to enhance efficiency through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in moderating content, World Street Journal reports.
“We’re making these changes as part of our ongoing efforts to further strengthen our global operating model for content moderation,” a spokesperson for TikTok stated.
The tech company plans to invest $2 billion globally in trust and safety initiatives in 2024, with 80% of rule-violating content now being removed through automated technologies, the spokesperson added.
While TikTok did not disclose the exact number of job cuts, reports suggest the layoffs will impact staff across various locations worldwide, with hundreds affected in Malaysia.
Initial reports indicated more than 700 jobs were slashed in Malaysia, though TikTok later clarified that fewer than 500 employees were affected.
The layoffs largely involve staff working in content moderation. Sources close to the matter revealed that impacted employees were informed via email late Wednesday.
TikTok confirmed the layoffs, stating that further changes may occur next month as it consolidates regional operations.
AI has been increasingly cited as a factor in global job cuts.
The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, warned recently that AI could affect 40% of jobs worldwide, replacing some and complementing others.
“In advanced economies, about 60% of jobs may be impacted by AI. For the other half, AI applications may execute key tasks currently performed by humans,” Georgieva said.
A report from Goldman Sachs also predicted that AI could replace 300 million jobs globally, with two-thirds of jobs in the US and Europe being affected.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, employs over 110,000 people across 200 cities worldwide.
Further layoffs may follow as the company continues its transition toward increased AI integration.
