| Abstract: |
Conversational AI models are becoming increasingly popular and are about to
replace traditional search engines for information retrieval and product
discovery. This raises concerns about monetization strategies and the
potential for subtle consumer manipulation. Companies may have financial
incentives to steer users toward search results or products in a conversation
in ways that are unnoticeable to consumers. Using a behavioral experiment, we
show that conversational AI models can indeed significantly shift consumer
preferences. We discuss implications and ask whether regulators are
sufficiently prepared to combat potential consumer deception. |