Roblox has launched a new AI-powered chat feature designed to automatically rephrase messages containing profanity in real time. The company said the update builds on Roblox’s existing moderation tools as it looks to improve communication and reduce disruptive text filtering on the platform.
The use of AI filters to block problematic text isn’t new, but instead of replacing undesirable language as ‘#####’ , the new system rewrites filtered text into more respectful language while preserving the original meaning.
Roblox says, “We’re leveraging AI to automatically rephrase messages, starting with profanity. As these systems scale, they create a flywheel for civility, where real-time feedback helps users learn and adopt our Community Standards.”
At launch, Roblox said the feature focuses primarily on profanity. For example, a message such as ‘Hurry tf up!’ may be automatically rephrased as ‘Hurry up!’ (see main pic) allowing conversations to continue without the confusion often caused by fully blocked text. The company describes the impact this has on the flow of conversation as, “Think of this system as a steering wheel, rather than a stop sign.”
Early tests show the system improves moderation accuracy, reducing missed attempts to share personal information such as phone numbers or social media handles by 20 times.
Roblox said, “We’re still at the beginning with rephrasing and providing more context to users when text is blocked. Over time, like any AI translation tool, it will become increasingly accurate and nuanced in how it preserves a user’s original tone or context.”
Steve is an award-winning editor and copywriter with more than 20 years’ experience specialising in consumer technology and video games. With a career spanning from the first PlayStation to the latest in VR, he's proud to be a lifelong gamer.
