Character AI like this NSFW character can of course become overly restrictive to functionality and the user experience. However, these restrictive filtering systems tend to limit the content and interactions that can have a significant impact on how effective AI is for those user engagements. One example might be a study from OpenAI in 2023, which looked at the trade-offs between safety and user realism (i.e., not sounding like C-6P0), specifically about restrictions on content moderation actually decreases the quality of information provided to users by up to 20%.
Most of these systems rely on a set of rules and algorithms developed to avoid the creation of inappropriate content. They tend to enforce thresholds which will then discriminate and perhaps filter or block material in an automatic process that works off pre-defined criteria. Twitter, for example removes up to 30% of user-generated content — a proportion that has led some to describe its rules and filters as overly restrictive.
Whilst you should have guidelines in place to protect your AI, super strict restrictions may hinder the flexibility of handling a lot more nuanced and diverse interactions. A 2022 IBM study found that AI models with heavy moderation rules often failed to effectively contribute in discussions about challenging or controversial topics. Such a constraint might lead to less depth of conversation and relevance, thereby compromising the interest for an effective AI.
In some cases, restrictions can act as a ban on legitimate content or user expression. An incident from 2023 highlights… Strict filters resulted in popular non-offensive content was removed, leading to users needing more submissions before reaching the frontpage. It highlights the tension between keeping an experience engaging and safe.
Balance suggested in content moderation by industry experts Google cites its AI research that argues a "well-calibrated" moderation system should be one that filters out harmful content but also allows for free expression. This includes working on obtaining and balancing feedback loops to realize AI that sustain a combination of safety and efficacy.
And for nsfw character ai systems, the level of restriction becomes all important. Filtering that is too aggressive can nuke a SiFAI’s usability and user engagement, whereas a lighter touch improves its utility dramatically. The balance between safety and utility is an essential problem in the design, development, and deployment of AI systems.