Ep 110: CR Permission Slip eases privacy burden, TA Report Hides Declining Reviews, Google Rushes to AI
Consumer Reports new app, Permission Slip eases privacy requests but is still a baby step, TripAdvisor Review Transparency Report highlights 2022 review increases but hides declining reviews, Google AI PR push masks lapses and fear
Part 1 starts 00:13 - Consumer Reports new app, Permission Slip eases privacy requests but is still a baby step
Permission Slip from Consumer Reports simplifies the process of making data deletion or "don't sell my data" requests to third-party websites and retailers. It is an elegant first step solution for individuals to navigate privacy exposures in states with stricter criteria. It centralizes the process and simplifies the burden on the end user. But privacy is still too complicated and put much of the burden on the end user in this case to download an app, and figure out where they need to take action. Consumer Reports, as a respected organization, has not stepped up on the privacy front. There is the need for privacy controls to be simple and global and enforced.
Segment Reference Article:
Introducing Permission Slip, the app to take back control of your data
Part 2 starts 8:59 - TripAdvisor Review Transparency Report highlights 2022 review increases but hides declining reviews
TripAdvisor has released their 2023 Review Transparency Report which revealed that reviews increased by 20% between 2020-2022, with 30.2 million total reviews in 2022. Business owners responded to one-third of the reviews, and there was a 16% increase in the total number of businesses listed.
While the press release took a bubbly positive tone, reviews have decreased by almost 60% since 2018, suggesting that the industry may have reached "Peak reviews."
Segment Reference Articles:
Part 3 starts 15:08 - Google AI PR push masks lapses and fear
Google is responding to the threat from chat GPT and Bing by releasing Bard, an AI language model, and Magi, a project combining traditional search with Bard. The recent PR push from Google seeks to reassure investors that they are still the top dog in search, although they were caught flat-footed by the AI competition.
The emergence of verticalized search engines, combined with the use of AI language models, has lowered the barrier to entry for new search engines, making it unlikely that Google's push will scare away new entrants.
Segment Reference Articles:
Google’s Rush to Win in AI Led to Ethical Lapses, Employees Say
Google Devising Radical Search Changes to Beat Back A.I. Rivals
Disclosure: Note that while the images, summaries and titles may have been (actually were) created by AI the videos and the people on them are the real deal.