FTC’S TECH SUMMIT TACKLES AI AND PROTECTING CONSUMERS
When personal computer ownership exploded in the 1990s, new forms of communication, productivity, and entertainment were accompanied by computer-related scams, misrepresentations, and anti-competitive practices. A recent FTC complaint highlighted a dramatic advertisement by Hayes Microcomputer Products that falsely claimed modems containing certain technology were a “bomb” waiting to go off, aiming to deceive the consumer into purchasing new modems with Hayes patented technology to avoid failure.
One year ago, the FTC established the Office of Technology (OT) staffed with technology experts to bolster the agency’s work, support enforcement actions, advise other staff and the Commission on policy and research initiatives, and highlight market trends and emerging technology. The agency has recently scheduled the FTC Tech Summit on AI to discuss the impacts of AI on consumers and competition, and to ensure these technologies are developed in a responsible manner.
The Summit, taking a systems-level approach, will have panels covering the computational infrastructure of AI, data and its use in training AI models, and the deployment of AI in consumer applications. The FTC has brought enforcement actions against numerous companies regarding handling of consumer data, and is keenly aware of potential unfair and deceptive practices in today’s fast-evolving technological landscape.
With advancements in computing resources available to consumers, there may also be unfair or deceptive practices that the FTC remains vigilant about. The summit intends to discuss and address these concerns and potential threats to consumers as new technologies continue to evolve.
Heading into the future, the FTC is determined to remain on the lookout for any modern-day equivalents to past misleading advertising, such as those by Syncronys Softcorp in 1996, claiming a software purchase could effectively double a computer’s RAM, which turned out to be an empty promise.
Readers, what are your thoughts on the potential impacts of AI on consumers and competition, and how can the FTC best protect consumers?Comment below and let us know!
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