Ford Explores In-Car Ad System That Could Monitor Conversations for Keywords

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As a seasoned gamer who has navigated countless virtual worlds and battled through countless privacy invasions in-game, I must say this new development from Ford leaves me with a sense of déjà vu. It feels like another level of intrusion, albeit one that’s happening on real roads instead of digital ones.

As per a freshly released U.S. Patent, Ford is working on a potentially contentious innovation aimed at personalizing in-car advertisements by capturing conversations among passengers. Initially submitted for patent protection last year, the details have only recently been made public, revealing plans to offer targeted ads based on passenger discussions, driving itineraries, and previous data.

This “in-car advertising delivery” system listens for specific words in conversations and considers factors like your vehicle’s position and speed to decide which ads to show. For instance, if you mention going grocery shopping, it might display relevant advertisements on your car’s screen. Ford’s technology leverages current software, so no additional hardware is needed, making it even more effective at forecasting user actions and providing tailored ads. It can also gather data from other apps to improve the overall advertising experience.

In a comment regarding the patent, a representative from Ford stated, “It’s common practice for robust companies to submit patent applications.” They highlighted that the application doesn’t always align with ongoing business strategies but serves to safeguard intellectual property. Nevertheless, the patent is vague about how Ford intends to secure the data gathered by the system, leading to privacy concerns. Currently, Ford has not released a public statement detailing their plans for the patented system, and there’s speculation that it may never be implemented.

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2024-09-16 11:56