The line between what is real and what is fake is becoming increasingly blurred, and what scares most people the most is that we will become less and less able to tell the difference, which could lead to people taking advantage of the situation. For example, this Oklahoma resident has expressed concern about some Medicare ads that appear to be “entirely AI-generated.”
The OP says the AI ad appeared while they were watching Discovery+. They also noted that they’ve seen plenty of AI-generated slot-machine ads. While predatory advertising aimed at older adults is nothing new, the use of disturbingly believable testimonials to persuade them to sign up for healthcare services raises even more serious concerns.
“The voices sound fake too,” said Reddit user BandFreak00, who shared a photo of one of the uncanny-looking ads on r/mildlyinfuriating. Because the ads appear to target seniors while using AI-generated testimonials, BandFreak00 described them as unsettling and potentially exploitative.
Redditors Agree That These AI-Generated Ads Could Potentially Be Considered False Advertising
Another Redditor questioned whether this type of campaign could be considered false advertising, since the people in the ads are presented as “actual local recipients” sharing their testimonials. Others pointed out that paid actors and fake reviewers have long been a problem.
“This is one step worse because they get to sidestep the ‘this is a paid endorsement’ notice they legally had to have on those.”
“I’ve been seeing an uptick of these commercials targeting, primarily, a senior audience. I’m seeing a lot of Medicare and Life insurance commercials, and they’re using verbiage that causes a sense of panic and alarm. Commercials like these are making me wonder what restrictions or laws will be enforced regarding AI false advertising. I mean, I understand everything is electronic, computerized, and AI lives in every algorithm we use- but these commercials are giving scam and predatory.”
“Seniors are so prone to being scammed by new tech they’re unfamiliar with.”
AI has been mainstream for some time now, and its controversial uses show no sign of slowing down. From companies producing uncanny advertisements to White House officials posting AI-generated videos, the technology has become nearly impossible to avoid.
Similar to BandFreak00’s post, concerns about AI ads targeting seniors are not new. Nearly six months ago, a Redditor shared a warning about predatory AI advertisements on r/Scams. As one commenter put it, these are “scary times, especially when they are trying to make you think a doctor is recommending the product.”
