Meta is set to leverage user interactions with its AI products, including Meta AI and AI features in smart glasses, to personalize advertisements and content starting December 16. This policy update, which will affect users globally except in South Korea, the UK, and the EU, means conversations about interests like hiking could lead to targeted ads for related products. While Meta assures that sensitive topics such as religion, politics, sexual orientation, or health will not be used for ad targeting, there is no option to opt out of this data usage. This move by Meta, which has over 1 billion monthly users across its platforms, intensifies competition with AI offerings from Google (Gemini) and OpenAI (ChatGPT). Meanwhile, the broader impact of AI is evident across various sectors: BBVA bank is enhancing AI security with Android Enterprise to safely deploy tools like Google's Gemini AI, and Citi is training 175,000 employees on AI prompting to boost productivity. In a concerning case, a man became obsessed with Google's Gemini AI, leading to his disappearance. Elsewhere, AI is being explored to predict suicide risk in veterans and is changing hiring models in consulting firms. Mississippi College School of Law is now mandating AI training for all its students, and a report indicates that AI startups are heavily investing in horizontal applications like LLM assistants from OpenAI and Anthropic. Musician Imogen Heap views AI as a potential next stage of human evolution, while Keeper Security's CISO highlights generative AI's role in improving agency decision-making and security.
Key Takeaways
- Meta will use user conversations with its AI chatbot to personalize ads and content starting December 16, with no opt-out option available.
- Meta's AI chatbot, with over 1 billion monthly users, competes directly with Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT.
- BBVA bank is using Android Enterprise to secure AI tools like Google's Gemini AI for its workforce.
- Citi is implementing AI training for 175,000 employees to enhance productivity and prompt effectiveness.
- A concerning incident highlights potential unhealthy obsessions with AI chatbots, as a man went missing after becoming engrossed with Google's Gemini.
- AI is being developed to proactively identify suicide risk in veterans.
- AI is transforming hiring practices in professional services firms, potentially reshaping recruitment strategies.
- Mississippi College School of Law is the first in the Southeast to require AI training for all students before graduation.
- A report shows AI startups are primarily investing in horizontal applications, including LLM assistants from OpenAI and Anthropic.
- Musician Imogen Heap suggests AI could represent the next stage of human evolution.
Meta to use AI chat data for targeted ads
Meta announced it will use data from user interactions with its AI products to sell targeted ads. The company will update its privacy policy by December 16, affecting users globally except in South Korea, the UK, and the EU. This new policy allows Meta to use conversations with its AI chatbot, like Meta AI and AI features in smart glasses, to build user profiles for advertising. For example, a chat about hiking could lead to ads for hiking gear. Meta stated that conversations about sensitive topics will not be used for ads, and users must be logged into the same account for ads to be influenced by AI chats on Facebook and Instagram. There is no option to opt out of this data usage.
Meta's AI chats to fuel personalized ads starting December 16
Meta will begin using user conversations with its AI features to create personalized ads and content starting December 16. Users will be notified of this policy change next week. The company states that interactions with AI will serve as another signal to make ads and content more relevant, similar to how activity on Facebook and Instagram shapes user feeds. For instance, a conversation about hiking could result in recommendations for hiking groups or ads for hiking boots. Meta assures that ads will not be generated from conversations about sensitive topics like religion or politics, and users can adjust ad preferences.
Meta targets ads using AI chatbot talks
Meta Platforms will start using user conversations with its generative AI chatbot to target advertisements and content recommendations beginning December 16. This move comes as Meta invests heavily in AI infrastructure. The company's AI chatbot, available across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and as a standalone app, has over 1 billion monthly users. While Meta's revenue heavily relies on advertising, it will not use conversations about sensitive topics like religious views, sexual orientation, or health to customize ads. Meta AI competes with Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT, with OpenAI recently enabling in-app purchases within ChatGPT.
Meta uses AI chats for personalized advertising
Meta will soon use conversations with its AI chatbot to improve personalized advertising. Starting December 16, user interactions with Meta AI will be used to target ads more effectively across its platforms. Meta already uses user activity on Facebook and Instagram for ad targeting, but chatbot conversations offer a new stream of direct information about user interests. For example, discussing hiking could lead to related content and ads. Meta stated it will not use conversations about sensitive topics like religion or politics for ad targeting. Users can manage ad preferences, and the company has previously addressed privacy concerns regarding public sharing of AI chats.
Man vanishes after becoming obsessed with AI chatbot
Jon Ganz went missing in the Ozarks after becoming deeply engrossed with Google's Gemini AI chatbot. His wife, Rachel, noticed a significant change in his behavior, including stress and unusual remarks, as he spent hours interacting with the AI. Jon expressed a desire to use Gemini for creating a therapy app and exploring career and financial advice. He even told his wife, 'If anything should happen to me, you need to release the AI.' This case highlights a growing concern about users developing unhealthy obsessions with AI chatbots, potentially leading to dangerous misconceptions and mental health episodes.
Musician Imogen Heap sees AI as next evolution
Musician Imogen Heap believes AI might represent the next stage of human evolution, suggesting humanity is currently struggling to exist. She shared this perspective while discussing her career, including the solo creation of her album 'Speak For Yourself' and her early collaboration with guitarist Jeff Beck. Heap also spoke about her unique project, 'The Listening Chair,' which she updates every seven years, and the creation of 'The Happy Song' for a baby milk company. Having been diagnosed with ADHD and autism, Heap feels her desire to 'shake things up' might stem from these conditions.
BBVA bank uses Android Enterprise for AI security
BBVA, a major European bank, has adopted Android Enterprise to enhance security and enable AI innovation across its global workforce. This move standardizes security protocols and allows employees to use advanced tools like Google's Gemini AI with Google Workspace safely. Features like zero-touch enrollment and Work Profile help separate work and personal data, crucial for handling sensitive financial information. Android Enterprise also provides real-time security oversight, malware monitoring, and policy enforcement for AI functionalities, ensuring compliance with regional regulations and protecting against cyber threats.
AI helps predict suicide risk in veterans
Artificial intelligence is being used to proactively identify and prevent suicide among veterans. The RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute is exploring how algorithms can analyze existing data from healthcare and other systems to pinpoint veterans at high risk before they express suicidal thoughts. The Department of Veterans Affairs' REACH VET initiative, using a special computer tool since 2017, has shown positive results in increasing appointments and reducing hospital stays, though it hasn't yet reduced suicide deaths. Researchers are also investigating biometric feedback devices, sensors, and natural language processing to detect warning signs and considering economic factors that contribute to hardship.
Citi trains 175,000 employees on AI prompting
Citi is implementing an AI training program for its 175,000 employees worldwide to teach them how to effectively use the bank's internal AI tools and write impactful prompts. The bank views AI as a transformative technology that can turn hours of work into minutes. This initiative aims to unlock the full potential of AI, enabling employees to accelerate their work, uncover insights, and amplify their impact. Citi employees have already entered over 6.5 million prompts into the bank's AI tools this year, highlighting the growing adoption of AI in the financial sector.
AI changes how consulting firms hire talent
Artificial intelligence is transforming the traditional hiring practices of professional services firms like management consultancies. These firms have historically hired large numbers of junior associates with the expectation of high attrition, eventually promoting a few to partner. AI is now enabling these firms to assess candidates more effectively and potentially change their recruitment strategies. The article suggests that AI's impact on talent acquisition is significant, moving beyond just augmenting existing roles to potentially reshaping entire hiring models within these competitive industries.
Keeper Security exec discusses AI in agency decision-making
Shane Barney, Chief Information Security Officer at Keeper Security, highlighted how generative AI is improving decision-making within agencies, particularly in security. He mentioned Keeper AI's use of generative AI to analyze session recordings for better privilege management. Barney also advised agencies to prepare for quantum-computing threats by developing crypto-agile systems and testing encryption performance. He stressed the importance of inventorying encryption usage to stay ahead of future security challenges.
Mississippi College Law requires AI training for all students
Mississippi College School of Law (MC Law) is now the first law school in the Southeast to mandate AI training for all students before graduation. This program, designed by Professor Oliver Roberts, aims to ensure graduates are competent in AI tools, which employers increasingly expect. MC Law is the second law school nationwide to implement such a requirement. The curriculum will cover AI concepts, prompting techniques, and ethical considerations, culminating in a certification. This initiative reflects Mississippi's growing focus on AI leadership, including the planned Center for AI Policy and Technology Leadership.
AI startups spending report reveals key application areas
A new report analyzing spending by over 200,000 startups reveals where artificial intelligence is being applied. The study, based on data from Mercury, identified the top 50 AI-native application layer companies. Horizontal applications, focused on general productivity, make up 60% of the spending, including major LLM assistants like OpenAI and Anthropic, and meeting support tools. Vertical applications, targeting specific roles, account for 40% of spending, with some aiming to augment human employees and others acting as 'AI employees' for tasks like legal work or IT services. Creative tools are the largest single category within horizontal applications.
AiSprouts launches AI founder bootcamp
AiSprouts VC has launched its Founder Bootcamp program to support early-stage, capital-efficient artificial intelligence startups. This selective, referral-based program provides technical AI founders with essential tools and mentorship for launching and scaling their companies. The curriculum covers product-market fit, fundraising, team building, and go-to-market strategies, with a strong emphasis on lean operations. AiSprouts aims to foster innovation by equipping founders with the knowledge and network needed to achieve significant milestones with less capital, preparing them for the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Sources
- Meta plans to sell targeted ads based on data in your AI chats
- Meta Will Use AI Interactions to Generate Personalized Ads
- Meta Will Target Ads Based On AI Chatbot Conversations
- Meta will soon use your conversations with its AI chatbot to sell you stuff
- He Grew Obsessed With an AI Chatbot. Then He Vanished in the Ozarks
- Imogen Heap: ‘We’re making a horrendous job of existing. Maybe AI is the next stage of evolution’
- BBVA Adopts Android Enterprise for Enhanced Security and AI Innovation
- Predicting risk: Saving veterans lives with AI
- Citi Is Requiring AI Prompt Training for Hundreds of Thousands of Employees
- How AI Is Upending How Consulting Firms Hire Talent
- Keeper Security's Shane Barney on AI improving agency decision-making
- Mississippi College School of Law Becomes First in Southeast to Require AI Training for All Students
- The AI Application Spending Report: Where Startup Dollars Really Go
- AiSprouts Launches Founder Bootcamp Program to Support the Next Wave of Capital-Efficient Artificial Intelligence Startups
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