Microsoft recently made headlines after it was discovered that the company had slipped in ads into its AI-powered Bing chat feature.
The ads, which are automated, are triggered when certain keywords are used in chats. For example, typing “movie night” into a Bing chat would cause the chatbot to suggest a nearby movie theater as an advertisement.
While the ads are not intrusive and do not interrupt conversations, many users were caught off guard by this unexpected move from Microsoft. In particular, users took to social media to raise their concerns about the ads, arguing that it was intrusive and unnecessary.
Many users also argued that the ads do not provide any real value to the conversation, as they do not necessarily enhance the chat in any way. In addition, some users have argued that it is unethical for Microsoft to place ads within a chatbot, as there is no transparency in the process.
Regardless of any ethical implications, there is no denying the fact that Microsoft has moved quickly to implement this new ad strategy. It is not clear how the ads will impact the user experience, or if users will even take notice. However, it is a reminder of how quickly companies can move to change user experiences and how important transparency is for any company.
Ultimately, only time will tell how users respond to this new ad strategy from Microsoft. For now, it appears that the company is moving quickly to integrate new features and strategies in order to compete in the AI-powered chatbot market.
