Ford Patents In-Car System That Eavesdrops So It Can Play You Ads
https:// www.motortrend.com /news/ford-in-vehicle-advertising-patent/ Ford Patents In-Car System That Eavesdrops So It Can Play You Ads
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.
Honestly good. Let no one else use that technology. Then all i have to do is not buy a ford.
That said, if you plug your phone into your car, this tech is already in place lol.
87This is not how patents work. At all.
For one, patent owners are generally more than happy to license their technology to integrators, and even competitors, if there is money to be made.
More importantly, patents cannot be used to get exclusivity on products. Rather, patents can only protect novel approaches to how a product is made or served.
The patent system is designed to protect R&D costs exclusively, not some get out of jail card for anti trust. Of course, the patent office isn't perfect, the system does get abused in anti-competitive ways. But in the end, it's rare that that results in less consumer choice, because of licensing deals.
37Yeah, the "let no one else use it" portion of my comment is what i meant when you say "patent owners are generally more than happy to license their tech"
I hope ford doesn't.
And yes while patents dont grant exclusivity it gives a company the option to try and argue that a competitors version isnt novel enough. In the USA, where ford is from, patent law screwery is abounds if you have enough money. Of which Ford is backed by the US government.
Im not here to point out whether or not the patent is the issue. The problem is the spying and selling of personal data. If ford proceeds in a way that limits that exposure to the rest of car manufacturers then fantastic, even if its only in a nominal way.
I do still appreciate your refresher on how patents work though! Hope the rest of your day goes well.
6
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!
55Maybe there's a way to dumb down the technology with 1950s bypasses. Just skip the computer entirely.
8"How to lobotomize your car" could become a whole new genre on youtube.
4
Do they not realize this will hurt their Brand?
Short term ad profits aren't worth losing customers.
40They very much are for a lot of people. Lines goes up, you can give yourself a nice bonus payout and if things come crashing down you leave. With your golden parachute of course.
49In general, digital privacy invasions have been very successful because of attrition.
Most people don't care, those that do hold out, but then every competitor does the same and you no longer have any real alternatives. Eventually, the hold outs need to replace [car in this case] and the sting of the objectiknable change has faded, and they just move on.
Rinse and repeat.
We lost the fight for meaningful net neutrality, basic digital privacy rights, broadband limits, etc.
They'll win this one too. Eventually. Your phones and IoT with microphones are already doing it.
14I guess they might lose customers, but the ad revenue will offset it. Which could be a win for them. Less cars to produce for the same amount of money. If they survive everybody else will probably just follow suit. Like the car functionality subscriptions.
I'm just sad we reached this point.
Ban targeted advertising. Ban data gathering. You won't even have to deal with the f***ing cookie banners anymore.
9
No, because the barrier to entry for car manufacturing is significant.
If the other major car manufacturers weren't already working a similar advertising system/platform, they've already scheduled multiple meetings to catch up.
This isn't a problem that will be solved by the market and competition, only by regulation.
And I don't consider tech savvy users learning how to hack and disable these features as a resolution, it's just mitigation.
6Thr loved brand "Ford".
1
This means my car will be cheaper, right?
...right?
29"Ahahahaha! You silly bitch..."
--Giant corporations
7
Give me a free car and I'll test it out with this "service". I'm not buying a car that advertises to me.
28Lets 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.
26drink a verification can to continue
10take your required 2 factor authentication shit
3
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 ☹️
3Ikea 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.
2
I really hope my car holds out for a long time, because fuck ads in my car. I don't want my car to listen to anything but the controls I use to drive.
Is there really anybody who thinks they would like that?
25Is there really anybody who thinks they would like that?
Auto companies don't care what people like, only what level of BS people would put up with before going to a different brand.
25
Of all the amazing futures that technology could bring us, this is the black hell we get stuck with.
23NEW feature: As you drive down the road, Ford cars will automatically take over and drive you to the nearest sponsor location. Hungry? It will take over and swerve into the nearest KFC drive-thru. Next stop, CVS pharmacy, then Office Depot.
Disclaimer: Disabling AutoAd feature requires monthly subscription.
23"But honey, the car took me to the strip club, it isn't my fault"
16
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...
17People don't buy EVs because they are way too expensive. BS spy devices and features hidden behind paywalls can be put in anything.
2Bold of you to assume that if Ford every implements this, it would only be in EV's
1
I'm already sick of ads at gas station pumps, and will just sit in my car in order to avoid them.
16Ads at the pump? What do you live? Luckily I haven't seen them in Germany yet. Guess it's only a matter of time..
5Oh just wait. They are motivating me further to go electric. Very widespread across the US and very loud. Despite what people love to say about mute buttons on forums, many do not have a mute option.
8USA - Washington DC Metro Area
Been happening for years now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSk3coye5Jg
3Yeah we got those. You come back from work or a late road trip, maybe listening to quiet jazz to temper things down, suddenly at the pump this over powering buzzing noise "the all new slushy! Get them today! It's inside! One free on every 50 fill ups! See inside for details!".
2I've seem them in France, but they are rare.
1
One of the buttons around the screen mutes them, in case you weren't aware. I've found that it's usually one of the ones on the top right, but it can vary.
4I swear I'm going to break one of those pumps with how hard I push the buttons on the fucking thing that starts talking to me. I'll never choose to go to a fuel station with those.
8
It's mostly valero pulling this shit. Everyone else seems to have gotten the memo
2
what if i screamed 'fuck off and die' at it whenever an ad plays
15It would recognize that you don't respomd well to ads and play more annoying ones as a result.
12
Would I buy that car? Would not drive, even if given to me for free. Hell Naw.
13They would have to pay me to ride around in that. Cash ass or grass Ford
14
I hate this timeline
12What if this is the best timeline?
I can't imagine there is any reality out there where capitalism doesn't exist.
2
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.
11No. 1 upgrade for future Ford cars: A switch to cut off the microphone.
10I hate this timeline.
10Destination: Las Vegas
Ford car: "Visit Hard-on Henry's for hookers and blow"
9Yet another reason not to buy a Ford.
9I've got 37 other reasons and they're all recalls. Seriously, that's just this year. They've had the most recalls of any manufacturer like 4 years running. At this point my whole family likes to joke that my brother's got job security out the whazoo.
5
Pi-hole coming to cars now
8Actually 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.
8Unless they make a deal behind closed doors
7
Finally I can add to the list:
- Fix Or Repair Daily
- Found On Road Dead
and now,
- Frequently Off Recording Device
7Fucked Or Running. Depends.
4
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.
6So now you have to disconnect and reinstall speakers and radio systems in new cars, got it
6I already never wanted a Ford, now I want one even less.
5If/when this happens it will just lead to a rise in aftermarket products to disable the feature.
Hell, since they will probably use AI to parse the audio you can probably use it to fuck with your friends. Like when people would put out hyper-specific FB ads but via cars.
4And then they integrate the systems with proprietary cross checking so that you can’t swap out or disconnect components, doing so will throw a code that will prevent cars from passing inspection on the CAN bus or cause a no-start. Why? Because they’ll put that shit in the contract when you buy.
Just like the outrage over car features needing subscriptions to activate, people will bitch and complain, then they buy the car anyway.
4I bet people will find a solution that's very simple, like snipping the GPS/cellular antenna. I think that could work to bypass it because what if your driving in a area with no reception? I highly doubt they will turn off your car because of were your driving.
1
So then... Laxative and boner-pill ads all day long? Maybe mix in some Geritol here and there?
3I've got a solid 20 that Ford also patents whatever it is that turns this system off..
2
I'lp make it a point to discuss other car brands when in a Ford from now on
4No
3Welp, they needed to tell people about themselves, I'm taking note.
3I 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)?
2I would've thought this was already in all vehicles made within the last decade or so and thus couldn't be patented due to prior art.
-1