Source-This post on AI Washing has been created based on the article “Hype over reality: How AI washing can dent businesses and delude users” published in “The Indian Express” on 29 June 2024.
Why in the news?
Recently, it has been revealed that some tech companies and startups are falsely marketing themselves as using artificial intelligence (AI), a practice known as “AI washing.”
About AI Washing
1. The term AI washing is derived from “greenwashing,” where companies exaggerate their environmental friendliness to attract customers.
2. It involves businesses claiming to have integrated sophisticated AI into their products while using much less advanced technology.
3. It is a deceptive promotional practice where companies exaggerate or falsely claim their products or services use AI.
4. Objective: To capitalize on the growing interest in AI and make their offerings appear more advanced and cutting-edge than they actually are.
5. Examples: A company might claim that their chatbot is “powered by the latest AI technology” when it merely matches keywords with pre-written responses.
Impacts and Problems
1. For Businesses: It can lead to overpaying for technology and services that do not deliver the expected benefits, failing to achieve operational objectives that genuine AI could help with.
2. For Investors: It makes it difficult to identify genuinely innovative companies, potentially leading to misinformed investment decisions.
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