FTC Warns About "AI And The Engineering Of Consumer Trust"

The Federal Trade Commission has been giving increased attention to marketers' use of artificial intelligence. In a series of blog posts, the FTC has been highlighting different concerns about the ways in which marketers can misuse AI. About a week ago, the FTC released a new post which raised some important issues that marketers should take into account. The FTC explained, "If we haven't made it obvious yet, FTC staff is focusing intensely on how companies may choose to use AI technology, including new generative AI tools, in ways that can have actual and substantial impact on consumers."

Noting that marketers are starting to use AI to influence consumers' beliefs, emotions, and behavior -- "tapping into unearned human trust" -- the FTC warned marketers not to steer people unfairly or deceptively into making harmful decisions. The FTC wrote, "Companies thinking about novel uses of generative AI, such as customizing ads to specific people or groups, should know