AI-Generated News Ads: Blurring Lines Between Information and Deception
Source: latimes.com
AI is now creating hyperrealistic videos, blurring the lines between genuine news and deceptive advertising. This trend raises serious concerns about truth in advertising and the spread of misinformation.
The Rise of AI-Powered Ads
Influencers are increasingly using AI to create convincing ads. These ads often mimic real news broadcasts, complete with anchors and breaking news banners. Personal injury lawyers, known for their attention-grabbing marketing, are at the forefront, using AI to make their pitches even more compelling and localized.
Alexios Mantzarlis from Cornell Tech warns that AI-generated humans and influencer replicas are promoting brands without disclosing their synthetic nature. This trend is not encouraging for truth in advertising.
Beyond Television: AI in Online Advertising
AI's reach extends beyond video, with screaming headlines in online news feeds also being AI-generated. One debt repayment ad features an AI-generated man holding a fake newspaper. The headline suggests that California residents with $20,000 in debt are eligible for help, further blurring the lines.
Despite criticism, companies continue to launch powerful AI video tools. Meta's Vibes and OpenAI's Sora make it easier than ever to create fake news stories. OpenAI is encouraging developers to use its tools to promote products, potentially exacerbating the issue.
The Dangers of Synthetic Social Media
Imagine a constant stream of highly addictive videos, much like TikTok, but impossible to distinguish from reality. The danger lies in the misuse of these affordable tools.
In other countries, state actors have used AI-generated news to spread disinformation. Experts warn that AI-generated content is drowning out human-generated content. YouTube had to delete hundreds of AI videos featuring celebrities promoting Medicare scams.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
In legal services, rapidly advancing AI can skirt restrictions, and blur ethical lines. Ads dramatize situations but are not allowed to promise specific results. AI newscasts showing AI victims holding oversized checks are testing boundaries.
Samuel Hyams-Millard of SheppardMulin notes the potential for viewers to mistake these AI-generated scenarios for reality. This could mislead them into thinking they are guaranteed a certain payout.
Case Connect AI: A Trailblazer or a Rule-Breaker?
Case Connect AI runs commercials on YouTube and Facebook, targeting car accident victims. They also use AI to estimate potential court case payouts. Robert Simon, a trial lawyer, criticized some of Case Connect's ads, calling them "egregious." He is helping draft Senate Bill 37 to address deceptive advertising.
Angelo Perone, Case Connect's founder, states his company complies with legal ad regulations. He says they are "navigating this space responsibly."
The Need for Guardrails
Vince Wingerter, founder of 4LegalLeads, emphasizes that the need for guardrails in the advertising industry is not new. The difference now is the power and sophistication of the technology involved.