this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2024
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Imagine your car playing you an ad based on your destination, vehicle information—and listening to your conversations.

Ford has patented a system that, per the filing, would use several different sources of information to customize ad content to play in your car. One such information stream that this hypothetical system would use to determine what sort of ads to serve could be could be the voice commands you’ve given to the car. It could also identify your voice and recognize you and your ad preferences, and those of your passengers. Finally, it could listen to your conversations and determine if it’s better to serve you a visual ad while you’re talking, or an audio ad when there’s a lull in the conversation.

If the system described in the patent knew that you were headed to the mall on the freeway based on destination information from the nav system and vehicle speed, it could consider how many ads to serve in the time you’ll be in the car, and whether to serve them on a screen or based through the audio system. If you respond more positively to audio ads, it might serve you more of those—how does every five minutes sound?

But what if the weather’s bad, traffic is heavy, and you’re chatting away with your passenger? Ford describes the system using the external sensors to perceive traffic levels and weather, and the internal microphone to understand conversational cadence, to “regulate the number (and relevance) of ads shown” to the occupants. Using the GPS, if it knows you’ve parked near a store, it might serve you ads relevant to that retail location. Got passengers? Maybe you get an audio ad, and they get a visual one.

Given how consumers feel about advertising and in-car privacy, it is difficult to imagine an implementation of this system that wouldn’t generate blowback. But again, the patent isn’t describing some imminent implementation; it just protects Ford’s IP that describes a possible system. That said, with the encroachment of subscription-based features, perhaps it’s only a matter of time before you’re accepting a $20/month discount to let your new Ford play you ads on your commute.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

So now you have to disconnect and reinstall speakers and radio systems in new cars, got it

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

I had discarded the idea of buying anything Ford a long time ago... this just tells me I had been right all along and there is zero reason to reconsider

Side note: is it me or the worst enshitification news always seem to come from Ford (out of the American car manufacturers)?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Actually this is a good thing. They've gone and got a patent for it, so now I know not to buy ford cars, and no one else can spy on me without breaking copyright, because that's the part that would be illegal.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Unless they make a deal behind closed doors

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

What if this is the best timeline?

I can't imagine there is any reality out there where capitalism doesn't exist.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

I already never wanted a Ford, now I want one even less.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

Pi-hole coming to cars now

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

Destination: Las Vegas

Ford car: "Visit Hard-on Henry's for hookers and blow"

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Lets hope this is one of those patents that they never do anything with while simultaneously denying everyone else the opportunity to do it.

Like that 2009 Sony patent that makes you get up from your seat and yell out the name of the brand to end an ad.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

2009? It will expire in 5 years and we'll be inundated with devices that require you to get up from your seat and yell out the name of the brand to end an ad ☹️

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Ikea are worried as then they will have to come down firm on a pronunciation.

It is either eye key eh, or i key ah, but even they don't seem to know.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

drink a verification can to continue

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

take your required 2 factor authentication shit

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago (2 children)

There was an article saying that ppl don't buy enough EVs, but with all the shit they put in it, the problem is beyond the type of engine...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

People don't buy EVs because they are way too expensive. BS spy devices and features hidden behind paywalls can be put in anything.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Bold of you to assume that if Ford every implements this, it would only be in EV's

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

No. 1 upgrade for future Ford cars: A switch to cut off the microphone.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 month ago

Of all the amazing futures that technology could bring us, this is the black hell we get stuck with.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

what if i screamed 'fuck off and die' at it whenever an ad plays

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago

It would recognize that you don't respomd well to ads and play more annoying ones as a result.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Love my 2nd gen Toyota. Runs well. Needs just basic maintenance. It can hold it's own in any "Made in Murica" pissing contest. And the only annoying thing is the TPMS sensor light, if you could even call that annoying. It's manual, 4wd, doesn't record me, no backtalk. As loyal as a truck can be.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago

Will they turn it off when you test drive? I bet there will be some nefarious test drive mode that doesn't show how fucked the car's systems are.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This means my car will be cheaper, right?

...right?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

"Ahahahaha! You silly bitch..."

--Giant corporations

[–] [email protected] 55 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Me: I'll just need a screwdriver and a hammer to chisel that shit off the motherboard from the radio 📻.....

Ford: actually it's an integral part of the fuel pump, the fuel injection timing system, the breaking system and the battery BMS system...and the head light controller...it's in all vital systems!

Me: check out my all new Honda!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Maybe there's a way to dumb down the technology with 1950s bypasses. Just skip the computer entirely.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

"How to lobotomize your car" could become a whole new genre on youtube.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 month ago

Give me a free car and I'll test it out with this "service". I'm not buying a car that advertises to me.

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