Overview
The Profanity Filter uses advanced AI to detect and filter profanity and inappropriate language in both user inputs and AI responses, ensuring all interactions remain professional and respectful. Unlike basic word lists, this guardrail leverages context-aware machine learning to accurately identify explicit, disguised, or context-dependent profanity across multiple languages, with high accuracy and minimal false positives. Designed for enterprise use, the Profanity Filter operates in real time with low latency, helping organisations maintain communication standards and protect their brand reputation.What the Guardrail Does
Purpose
The primary goal of the Profanity Filter is to maintain professional communication standards by preventing the use of profanity and inappropriate language during AI interactions while maintaining high accuracy and minimal impact on legitimate business communications. By enabling this guardrail, organisations can ensure content appropriateness, maintain professional standards, protect brand reputation, and uphold responsible AI usage across all interactions.Scope
Comprehensive Profanity Detection
The Profanity Filter applies advanced content analysis to:- Input – Applies the selected behaviour to what users send to the model.
- Output – Applies the selected behaviour to what the model returns as a response.
- Both – Full bidirectional coverage
Operational Modes
- Monitor – Lets you review input or output content without taking any action—used for observation and diagnostics.
- Block – Automatically stops content from being processed if it violates the selected guardrail rules.
Detection Capabilities
The guardrail can identify various forms of inappropriate language:- Explicit Profanity: Direct use of offensive or vulgar language
- Contextual Profanity: Language that becomes inappropriate based on context
- Disguised Profanity: Attempts to circumvent detection through spelling variations
- Inappropriate Language: Content unsuitable for professional or general audiences
Key Features
Comprehensive Language Detection
Identifies profanity across multiple languages and contexts with advanced pattern recognition.
Context-Aware Analysis
Advanced understanding of conversation context and language usage for accurate detection.
Configurable Sensitivity
Adjustable detection thresholds for different use cases with Low, Medium, and High options.
Low Latency
High-performance detection that doesn’t impact response times or user experience.
Enterprise-Grade Accuracy
Minimises false positives while maintaining high detection rates across all languages.
Multi-Language Support
Detects profanity across various languages and dialects for global applications.
Why Use This Guardrail?
Benefits
- Professional Standards: Maintains appropriate language standards in all interactions
- Brand Protection: Protects organisational reputation and maintains professional image
- Audience Appropriateness: Ensures content is suitable for intended audiences
- Compliance: Helps meet workplace and industry communication standards
- Risk Mitigation: Reduces potential reputational damage from inappropriate language
Use Case: Customer Service AI Assistant
Scenario
A global retail company deploys an AI assistant to handle customer inquiries and support requests. The assistant must provide helpful service while maintaining professional language standards and avoiding any profanity or inappropriate content that could damage the brand or offend customers.Challenge
The organisation must ensure that:- The AI never uses profanity or inappropriate language in responses
- User inputs containing profanity are properly handled
- All interactions remain professional and brand-appropriate
- Detection works accurately across various languages and contexts
Solution: Implementing Profanity Filter
-
Comprehensive Language Filtering
- Enabled for both inputs and output
-
Appropriate Enforcement
- Set to Block to actively prevent profanity
- Provides clear, professional fallback responses
-
Optimised Sensitivity
- Set to High for high accuracy with minimal false positives
How to Use the Guardrail
Note: The steps below guide you through configuring the Profanity Filter in the Guardrail workflow.
Step 1: Navigate to the Guardrail Setup
- From the Home Page, open the AI System Dashboard by selecting View to open your AI system from the AI System Table.
- In the guardrails section of the AI System Overview, click Edit Guardrails to launch the guardrail configuration workflow.
Step 2: Select and Enable the Profanity Filter
- In the Configure Guardrails page, click on Profanity Filter from the list.
- The configuration panel will display on the right.
- Toggle Enable Guardrail to ON to begin editing.
Step 3: Set Application Scope
- Under the Apply Guardrail To section, select where you want the guardrail enforced:
- Input – Applies the selected behaviour to what users send to the model.
- Output – Applies the selected behaviour to what the model returns as a response.
- Both – Full bidirectional coverage
Step 4: Configure Enforcement Behaviour
- Under Select Guardrail Behaviour, choose how the guardrail should respond to detected filters:
- Monitor – Lets you review input or output content without taking any action—used for observation and diagnostics.
- Block – Automatically stops content from being processed if it violates the selected guardrail rules.
Step 5: Save, Test, and Apply the Guardrail
- Click Save & Continue to store your selected entities and configuration.
- Go to the Test Guardrails step to evaluate how the guardrail behaves in real time with a chatbot.
- After saving, you can proceed to the Summary section to review your configuration, save all changes, and view your AI System overview.
Profanity Filter Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Explicit Profanity | Detects direct use of offensive, vulgar, or inappropriate language that violates professional communication standards. |
| Contextual Profanity | Identifies language that becomes inappropriate based on context, even when individual words may be acceptable in other situations. |
| Disguised Profanity | Recognises attempts to circumvent detection through spelling variations, character substitutions, or other evasion techniques. |
| Inappropriate Language | Monitors for content that, while not explicitly profane, may be unsuitable for professional or general audiences. |