Hypersuasion – On AI’s Persuasive Power and How to Deal With It

Abstract

The evolution of persuasive technologies (PT) has reached a new frontier with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This article explores AI’s power of hyper persuasion (hypersuasion)—the intensive and transformative power of AI to influence beliefs and behaviours through personalized, data-driven strategies. By processing vast amounts of data and tailoring content to individual susceptibilities, AI significantly enhances the capabilities of PT. The ethical implications of AI’s hypersuasion are examined, considering its potential to empower persuaders, strengthen messages and goals, and disempower the persuadable. While the misuse of AI’s persuasive power by malicious actors poses significant risks, the article suggests four complementary strategies to mitigate negative consequences: protecting privacy to reinforce autonomy, fostering pluralistic competition among persuaders, ensuring accountability through regulation and alignment with human values, and promoting digital literacy and public engagement. By proactively addressing the challenges of AI’s hypersuasion, its power can be harnessed to support better decisions and behaviours while safeguarding individual autonomy and fostering a sustainable and preferable society.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; captology; hypersuasion; persuasion; persuasive technologies