As someone who works in advertising, I appreciate the constant push for creativity and efficiency in reaching consumers. Brands are always looking for innovative ways to engage their audience, but Ford’s newly patented in-car system, which listens to conversations and delivers targeted ads, might be crossing a line.
We’re used to seeing ads tailored to our online activity. However, having your car eavesdrop to serve ads based on your conversations and location adds a new level of intrusion. This type of system raises serious privacy concerns and could alienate a significant number of consumers who are already wary of companies collecting too much personal data.
The patent describes a system that gathers information from voice commands, the car’s GPS, and even the external environment to deliver ads while you’re driving. It can detect whether you’re talking to someone and decide whether to serve a visual or audio ad based on …