Last week, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which protects consumers from deceptive business practices, issued an advisory titled โKeep your AI claims in check.โ
When it comes to marketing, โfalse or unsubstantiated claims about a productโs efficacy are our bread and butter,โ wrote Michael Atleson, an attorney with the FTCโs Division of Advertising Practices.
Artificial intelligence is a on everyoneโs lips at the moment, โand at the FTC, one thing we know about hot marketing terms is that some advertisers wonโt be able to stop themselves from overusing and abusing them.โ
Given the renewed interest, โfor companies where AI was previously No. 4 on the list of proof points, machine learning capabilities should merge into the main hook of the announcement,โ advises PR strategist Camilla Tenn.
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โIf AI-related coverage can get a new, unknown brand into its target publications today, it could help get the brandโs pitch deck in front of potential investors or partners tomorrow,โ she writes in TC+.
Tenn recommends imitating major players like Google and Samsung, which have dedicated teams that release a steady stream of material about โongoing projectsโ tied to prevailing tech trends.
โEven if those projects donโt see the light of day, the PR team has strategically positioned the brand as โinnovative,โโ says Tenn. โWith this precedent, startups should not feel abashed to use any means necessary to get their name out there.โ
Good advice for marketing mercenaries, but keep those pitches straight โ reporters know when weโre being sold to, and the FTC isnโt messing around.
Thanks for reading โ and for making this TechCrunchโs fastest-growing newsletter last month!
Have a great weekend,
Walter Thompson
Editorial Manager, TechCrunch+
@yourprotagonist
Image Credits: Juanmonino (opens in a new window) / Getty Images
Many devs rely on donations and crowdfunding to monetize open source projects, but with the proper planning, teams can leverage their work for commercial clients whoโll put them in a higher tax bracket.
Offering users customer support or consulting services are common revenue streams, according to product development consultant Victoria Melnikova, who also says devs should form partnerships and use platforms like Reddit and Hacker News to reach potential paying customers.
โTo find your path, talk to your clients and understand their goals and pains.โ
Image Credits: Liang Wendong/VCG / Getty Images
Tapping the ocean for energy led to disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which released nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
Today, wind power and wave action are just two technologies leading investors to take a closer look at ocean conservation technology, reports Tim De Chant.
To learn more about the opportunities theyโre chasing and discover how climate change is shaping their investment thesis, he surveyed:
Image Credits: Gable (opens in a new window)
Remote workspace platform Gable raised a $12 million Series A to scale up its operations, which currently serves more than 5,000 workers in 26 countries.
โMaking the business of shared workspaces easier for startups certainly has its challenges, but itโs also a large and growing market,โ writes Haje Jan Kamps. โGable weaves its story together with ease.โ
Hereโs their 21-slide Series A deck:
Image Credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch
Dear Sophie,
I started working for my current employer on STEM-OPT, but Iโve lost out in the H-1B lottery four times. Thankfully, my employer transferred me to an international office, and I am now coming back to the U.S. on an L-1 visa.
Iโve heard many complaints from my classmates about not being able to switch employers on an L-1 visa. I donโt see myself staying at my employer for six more years, which is the estimated time until I can get a green card based on my employerโs internal policy.
What are my options for changing my immigration status so I can work at a startup in the U.S. within a year or two?
โ Tenacious Transferee
Image Credits: SomeMeans (opens in a new window) / Getty Images
No one needs a mega-influencer like Serena Williams or a Kardashian to build buzz for their startup โ an evangelist with just a few thousand followers can push qualified customers into your product funnel.
But before hiring a TikTok or YouTube personality, brand marketers should brush up on the laws that govern how influencers operate, and the risks associated with failing to comply.
โNovel legal issues and risks have emerged for both influencers and brands,โ says Nicholas Sandy, a litigator at Pryor Cashman.
โKey, recurring issues relate to copyright licensing and infringement, disclosures and statements in endorsements, compliance with securities laws, and defamation.โ
Interested in speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt this September in San Francisco?
Submit a title and a description for the topic youโd like to talk about before April 21.
Selected applicants will have a chance to lead a roundtable discussion or participate in a breakout session followed by an audience Q&A.
TechCrunch+ roundup: Ocean tech investor survey, AI and PR, L-1 visa options by Walter Thompson originally published on TechCrunch