Analysis reveals that name-dropping AI in advertising copy may backfire, decreasing shopper belief and buy intent.
A WSU-led research revealed within the Journal of Hospitality Advertising & Administration discovered that explicitly mentioning AI in product descriptions might flip off potential consumers regardless of AI’s rising presence in shopper items.
Key Findings
The research, polling 1,000+ U.S. adults, discovered AI-labeled merchandise constantly underperformed.
Lead writer Mesut Cicek of WSU famous: “AI mentions lower emotional belief, hurting buy intent.”
The assessments spanned various classes—good TVs, high-end electronics, medical gadgets, and fintech. Contributors noticed similar product descriptions, differing solely within the presence or absence of “synthetic intelligence.”
Affect on Excessive-Danger Merchandise
AI aversion spiked for “high-risk” choices, that are merchandise with steep monetary or security stakes in the event that they fail. These things naturally set off extra shopper nervousness and uncertainty.
Cicek said:
“We examined the impact throughout eight totally different product and repair classes, and the outcomes had been all the identical: it’s a drawback to incorporate these sorts of phrases within the product descriptions.”
Implications For Entrepreneurs
The important thing takeaway for entrepreneurs is to rethink AI messaging. Cicek advises weighing AI mentions fastidiously or creating techniques to spice up emotional belief.
Highlight product options and advantages, not AI tech. “Skip the AI buzzwords,” Cicek warns, particularly for high-risk choices.
The analysis underscores emotional belief as a key driver in AI product notion.
This creates a twin problem for AI-focused companies: innovate merchandise whereas concurrently constructing shopper confidence within the tech.
Wanting Forward
AI’s rising presence in on a regular basis life highlights the necessity for cautious messaging about its capabilities in consumer-facing content material.
Entrepreneurs and product groups ought to reassess how they current AI options, balancing transparency and person consolation.
The research, co-authored by WSU professor Dogan Gursoy and Temple College affiliate professor Lu Lu lays the groundwork for additional analysis on shopper AI perceptions throughout totally different contexts.
As AI advances, companies should observe altering shopper sentiments and regulate advertising accordingly. This work reveals that whereas AI can increase product options, mentioning it in advertising might unexpectedly influence shopper conduct.
Featured Picture: Wachiwit/Shutterstock
