Reddit is using LLMs to solve a problem LLMs largely created

Reddit has developed tools using large language models (LLMs) to cut down on spam, much of which was created with LLMs in the first place. The platform states it blocks 23 million spam views per day and catches about 25,000 new spam posts and comments each day. According to a Reddit blog post, the company says it is "leveraging LLMs to catch the highly subtle, coordinated patterns of fake behavior and artificial hype that older systems once missed," and claims it reduced users' exposure to spam by 20% from January to March compared with the prior three months. The article notes the irony of using LLMs to solve a problem LLMs largely created, but states that in the AI era, platforms have no choice but to fight fire with fire. It also mentions that platforms like YouTube, Meta, and Instagram allow users to post AI-generated content so long as they disclose it, and TikTok lets users toggle how much AI-generated content they want to see. The piece concludes by noting that while AI can help detect violative content like hate speech more quickly, platform experts have continually reminded that AI content moderation must be paired with human moderation for the most effective results.