Is Your Digital Assistant Devious?
22 Pages
Posted: 24 Aug 2016
Last revised: 15 Sep 2016
University of Oxford - Faculty of Law
University of Tennessee College of Law; The Konkurrenz Group
Date Written: August 23, 2016
Abstract
Who wouldn’t want a personal butler? Technological developments have moved us closer to that dream. The rise of digital personal assistants has already changed the way we shop, interact and surf the web. Technological developments and artificial intelligence are likely to further accelerate this trend. Indeed, all of the leading online platforms are currently investing in this technology. Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, Facebook’s M, and Google Assistant can quickly provide us with information, if we so desire, and anticipate and fulfill certain needs and requests. Yet, could they also reduce our welfare? Could they limit competition and transfer our wealth to the providers? And if so, can competition law safeguard our welfare while enabling these technological developments?
Keywords: Internet, Competition law, Virtual Competition, Foreclosure, Antitrust, Monopoly
JEL Classification: K21, L1, L11, L15, L41, L52, L86
Suggested Citation:
Suggested Citation
Ezrachi, Ariel and Stucke, Maurice E., Is Your Digital Assistant Devious? (August 23, 2016). Oxford Legal Studies Research Paper No. 52/2016; University of Tennessee Legal Studies Research Paper No. 304. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2828117 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2828117
