It completed work in six months that would have previously taken 1,570 compliance officer working days, while maintaining human oversight of final age ratings
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has used its own bespoke AI tool to classify HBO Max’s entire content library.
This new approach ensures 100% of the HBO Max catalogue carries BBFC age ratings and content advice, following the streamer’s recent UK launch.
This is the first time the BBFC has developed and deployed a bespoke AI tool to support the classification of content for UK audiences.
It’s also the first time it has worked with a streaming service to utilise AI to help protect UK audiences at home.
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The AI tool generates detailed metadata that highlights specific compliance issues, such as violence, nudity, or language, for human review.
The final age ratings and bespoke content advice remains the responsibility of BBFC Compliance Officers,, so there remains a human in the loop.
Prior to its use, the AI technology was tested against the BBFC’s nine key content issues, which are defined by public consultation, to ensure its reliability.
As a result, it has made it possible for the BBFC to classify volumes of content in a short period.
The BFI says that while the AI tool is used effectively in support of classification, the assets and content being classified are not used for AI training or retraining.
By integrating AI into the process, the BBFC completed the classification of HBO Max’s entire UK catalogue in six months.
Previously, the same volume of content would have required an estimated 1,570 compliance officer working days to process.
All HBO Max UK titles now carry a BBFC age rating (e.g., U, PG, 12, 15, or 18) and bespoke content advice, in line with the BBFC’s Classification Guidelines.
David Austin OBE, chief executive of the BBFC, said: “The BBFC’s use of AI to support our classification is a major step forward in how we support families to make safe and informed viewing decisions.
“The technology has allowed us to deliver classifications for the entire UK HBO Max catalogue, from Game of Thrones to Succession, in just six months. It has also allowed UK audiences to choose what’s right for them to view from the day the platform launched, without any compromise to our rigorous standards.
“We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery now that it has brought this exciting new service to the UK.”
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