AI enabled marketing reaching out a hand of support instead of a nudge of persuasion

Marki
Mar 12, 2018
2 min read

Most people now when scrolling through Facebook can automatically find a banner or click advertisement of something they had just googled for an hour ago haunting them as they try to update their status about how crazy the world is getting, am I right? (would have to book off a week to talk about that)

Besides that point, Facebook is more than just a sharing community and bringing people together, they also can track your data using your information, status moods and frequently searched keywords to create this beautiful banner ad that you will hopefully click on (and buy something.)

This is called AI enabled marketing, curata.com puts it best when they say that Artificial intelligence refers to machines with capabilities that mimic cognitive functions associated with the human mind—most notably learning and problem-solving.

This means Facebook takes your data that they collect from your cookies, and gives it to other marketers to create an advertisement that fits what you’re feeling and what you want to see.

I never thought about this truly in-depth until my instructor for my Consumer Behavior class had us Listen to an eye-opening podcast by Sam Harris

that talked about Persuasion and control and how AI facebook algorithms cause consumers to see only the things Facebook thinks you want to see and how it uses your moods to create advertisements off of your vulnerability

Some people might see this as unethical, but I think that it could help in many people as well who are at a low point. A great example is that Tumblr uses AI technology by picking up keywords when typed into the search to bring a helping hand if someone is feeling depressed or broken.

Tumblr creates an ad for their vulnerable consumer to spread support and awareness that hopefully brings them out if whatever mood they are feeling, which to me is a more ethical way of marketing.

I encourage you to check out Sam Harris’s podcast and create your own opinion of this AI debate around facebook, id love to hear your opinion as well in the comments! hope you enjoyed my thoughts!