What is Comment Moderation AI, Really?

AI is "in," and every SaaS company seems to be slapping "AI" onto their old products. But what does that really mean? At HippoMod, we believe Large Language Models (LLMs) are the best option for comment moderation, but there may be a place in your strategy for other tools. The important thing is to be informed – when someone tries to sell you "AI," what are they really selling?

Let's take a quick look at a few of the common options.

Keyword Filters: Vintage "AI"

Keyword filters were a good first step. These simple rules, like "hide comments containing [this word]," offered a basic level of control.

But keyword filters rely on specific matches and lack any understanding of context. You have to predict what needs to be filtered, and even then, you're bound to miss variations or catch innocent comments in the crossfire. It's a constant game of whack-a-mole.

Language is nuanced. The word "scary" might be positive for a haunted house's social media ad, but it's definitely a red flag for a dentist's office.

Sentiment Analysis: A Step Up, But Still Blunt

Sentiment analysis attempts to classify comments as positive, negative, or neutral based on the overall sentiment expressed. But sentiment analysis still often struggles with the intricacies of human language.

Sarcasm is often difficult for sentiment analysis to detect. A comment like "Oh yeah, this is exactly what I wanted - a broken product delivered late" might seem positive despite its clearly negative meaning. Similarly, the literal meaning of phrases can be misleading. Ever had a friend use "I almost died" as an expression of happiness?

Enter Large Language Models

HippoMod leverages the power of the latest large language models (LLMs) to go beyond simple keyword matching and sentiment analysis. If you’ve used a modern AI "chat" like ChatGPT, you’ve used an LLM. LLMs can incorporate the context of a comment, allowing for far more accurate and nuanced moderation.

"This is scary good" is very different from "This is scary bad." A keyword filter would likely flag both, while an LLM understands the difference. "That's sick!" could be great for a snowboarder but a problem for a plastic surgeon.

HippoMod takes it a step further. We incorporate your brand's history, including your past responses and moderation actions, to fine-tune the moderation and reply suggestions. The AI includes your brand's unique voice and tone, ensuring consistency across all your social media interactions.

TLDR; You get more effective moderation, better reply suggestions, and a more authentic brand voice.

As a side benefit, it’s easier to customize. Instead of constantly tweaking keyword lists, you can simply tell the model what you want.

These models are constantly learning and improving. As LLMs get smarter, your moderation will become even more accurate and efficient.

Ready to move beyond basic keyword filters and experience the power of truly intelligent AI-powered comment moderation? Try HippoMod free for 14 days and see the difference!