Is the AI ‘manipulation engine’ here? How chatbots are gearing up to sell ads

We see a future where AI companies profit from manipulating their users’ behavior for the benefit of their advertisers and investors. Eighteen months ago, it was plausible that artificial intelligence might take a different path than social media. Back then, AI’s development hadn’t consolidated under a small number of big tech firms. Nor had it capitalized on consumer attention, surveilling users, and delivering ads.