AI Ads: Personalized Magic or Just Creepy Digital Stalking?

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is quickly changing the world of online advertising. Imagine scrolling through your favorite social media app and seeing ads that seem to know you very well. They use your favorite colors, play music you like, and even use phrases you often say. This is not just a coincidence. Companies are now using AI to study your online activity and create ads that match your personality and interests. For example, Cheil UK is working with a startup called Spotlight to use large language AI models to understand how people behave online. The AI can read what you post on public platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit, as well as your search history and even what you type into ChatGPT.

With all this information, AI can guess things about you, such as whether you are introverted or extroverted, what kind of music you prefer, and what colors you like. It can also figure out your age, where you live, if you have children, your hobbies, and even your holiday destinations. This helps companies create ads that are unique to each person. For example, if you have been searching for jeans online, you might start seeing ads for jeans in your favorite color. If you are interested in traveling, ads for holiday destinations you like may follow you around the internet.

Some experts believe that AI can make ads more effective by targeting people based on their emotions and psychological profiles, rather than just their age or gender. Research has shown that personalized ads written by AI can be more persuasive than regular ads. However, not everyone is convinced that this is a good idea. Some people worry that ads could become too personal and even 'creepy. ' They also worry about privacy, since AI uses a lot of personal data to create these ads. Others question whether companies should use AI to personalize everything, and what risks they might face if they do. There are also concerns about how AI could be used to influence people in ways that are not ethical, such as during elections. While AI has the potential to make advertising more creative and relevant, companies need to be careful to use it responsibly and respect people's privacy.