#5: Mobile eavesdropping? / Merry Minecraft / RIP SEO? / Ai Schools / EU AI Act

Monday, we meet again.

Hope you had a great weekend. Over here, we met children’s TV legend Bluey, started brewing Kombucha, a spot of Christmas shopping, and got the decorations up. In amongst coughs and colds, which hopefully magically disappear by Christmas Eve, here’s hoping. ??

Let’s get started, shall we: Here’s the Edition #5 of DotDash, your Weekly Dose of: Ai / Brand / Content / Web / SEO / ??

SEARCH

Ever thought your phone was eavesdropping on your conversations?

Only to serve you targeted ads later?

Turns out, it might be more than just a hunch! A Cox Media Group (CMG) marketing team claims they can listen to consumers' ambient conversations through microphones in smartphones & smart devices.

Active Listening

Company "Cox Media Group" has developed an "Active Listening" technology, which allows them to listen to consumers' conversations through their smartphones and smart devices for target advertising. It may sound like something from a dystopian novel, but it's here today.

There are potential privacy concerns about such technology and how it can be used to target customers based on their day-to-day conversations.

Legal concerns

Legal concerns have been raised regarding CMG's capability to intercept communications without proper consent, a potential violation of wiretapping laws.

CMG's website argues that this is legal as consumers often consent through terms and conditions of software updates or app downloads.

However, there's scarce information about how this data is collected.

Apple does notify iPhone users when an app accesses the device's microphone.

After a call with CMG, a marketing professional decided to disable microphone access on their technology, stating they would not partake in such activities. The question is, are we ready to trade our privacy for more personalised ads?

How should companies navigate this fine line between invasive and innovative advertising?

AI IMAGES

This week, the Ai fun comes to you from a slightly obsessed boy who’s mashed Minecraft and Christmas together and see what comes out, something rather good, I think…

Merry Minecraft

SEO

Will SEO die in 2024?

RIP SEO?

There's a bit of a kerfuffle about SEO being on its last legs, what with all the talk of Google’s SGE (Search Generative Experience), but let's not write it off yet – the figures are singing a different tune.

Google earned ￡27 billion in 2022 from AdSense alone. Now, how do those websites attract the masses? A hefty portion of that traffic comes courtesy of trusty SEO and organic traffic.

And here's a thought: if Google were to give SEO the old heave-ho, their coffers would feel the pinch. They'd need some time to devise new schemes to recoup those lost earnings.

Indeed, SEO is rather like a chameleon – constantly changing its colours. Some sites might notice a dip in traffic for certain searches, but that doesn't spell the end for SEO. It's simply taking on a new form.

Consider this: at times, Google can be a bit boggled by certain queries. Pose it a health question, and you might not get a straight answer. Google's AI isn't always spot on; a wrong answer could be problematic.

And let's not overlook the fact that the internet can be a bit of a jumble sale of information. You can easily stumble upon pages ranking high with dodgy info.

So, instead of fretting about the demise of SEO, why not adopt a smarter approach?

Omni-channel strategy

Go for an omnichannel strategy; Google Ads, for example, hedge your bets; that’s what we are recommending to our clients.

Remember, this isn't the first time (and certainly won't be the last) that Google or any other platform will throw a spanner in your marketing works. Stay nimble, stay ahead!

ADVERTISING

Santa’s Space.

Nice festive touch by Manchester's Aldi store in Knutsford.

The UK retailer has joyfully transformed their store’s rooftop into a giant sleigh parking space reserved for Father Christmas and reindeer.

Not just an ordinary parking space - this ONE is 36 feet long and 9 feet wide, painted in yellow to ensure the big man spots his designated space.

This fun and whimsical move from Aldi not only adds a dash of festive cheer to the community but also reminds us of the joy and wonder that the holiday season brings to families.

It seems like surprises are not just limited to Aldi's middle aisle anymore!?

What unique Christmas surprises have you spotted this festive season?

AI

Ai to replace Teachers and Schools?

Imagine a future where artificial intelligence (AI) is the heart of education, where AI tools replace school teachers.

This future isn't far-fetched - it's here. A private school in Austin, Texas, Alpha Private School, has integrated AI into its curriculum to teach core subjects, with humans serving as coaches to guide students towards their academic goals.

The AI adjusts to each student's learning pace and level of understanding, personalizing education like never before.

The tuition fee for this futuristic education?

A staggering ￡35,000 a year. Yet, school co-founder MacKenzie Price claims about 75% of their students receive some form of financial aid.

As revolutionary as it sounds, this development raises critical questions.

How is the quality of the information shared being checked?

What is the level of social interaction students have during the day?

Are we prepared for the implications this could have on our traditional education system?

What are your thoughts on the use of AI in our classrooms?

Do the potential benefits outweigh the concerns?

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Ai

The EU AI Act is agreed.

The European Union has announced a provisional agreement on the world's first dedicated law on artificial intelligence, the EU AI Act.

This visionary move establishes a world-leading regulatory framework, ensuring safety, legality, trustworthiness, and fundamental rights within AI systems.

The AI Act categorises risks into four levels, each with tailored rules, and also aims to boost AI innovation within the EU.

Minimal or No Risks: The majority of AI systems with negligible risks can continue without regulation.

Limited Risks: AI systems with manageable risks are subject to light transparency obligations to empower users with informed decision-making.

High Risks: A broad spectrum of high-risk AI systems will be authorised but with stringent requirements and obligations to access the EU market.

Unacceptable Risks: Systems containing deemed unacceptable risks, including cognitive manipulation, predictive policing, emotion recognition in workplaces and schools, social scoring, and certain remote biometric identification systems, will be banned, with limited exceptions.

It's a landmark piece of legislation that is set to have a global impact, similar to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on data privacy around the world.

As AI continues to shape our everyday lives, it's reassuring to see forward-thinking legislation being implemented.

What do you think this law means for the future of AI and technology?

That’s all folks.

Have a great week and I’ll see you on Christmas Eve!

Gareth

DotMedia