Thank You for Smoking

Watching Thank You for Smoking made me think more deeply about the difference between legality and ethics in advertising. Naylor is an intelligent man who succeeds in achieving the desired outcome, but that outcome is harmful. This shows that legality does not necessarily correlate with ethical acceptability. The film shows the power of persuasion and how outcomes can be overcome in the pursuit of a desired outcome. It also shows disregard for ethics when an idea is legal, especially when incentives are involved. Showing that ethics and legality are important to consider before creating the advertisement.

I would not be able to perform the actions Naylor takes to earn such a high salary. Even at $100,000 or $200,000, I do not think I would be okay with promoting a product that harms the public. While many people have the freedom to make their own choices, it is not a product's role to promote actions that will harm them. I would not enjoy the role of Naylor and the actions he takes to promote the cigarette industry.

This also relates to other types of vice advertising. For instance, many young populations are vaping at high rates. According to the CDC, millions of middle and high school students use e-cigarettes. This proves there is an ethical concern about the vaping industry and its advertising directed at younger audiences. The use of social media to promote these products also raises ethical concerns about the influence of the advertisements on the younger population.

Another topic that this film covered that made me think more deeply was the role that the journalist plays in the investigation. While she was justified in the actions that she took, her methods were not entirely ethical. Even if the outcome of an investigation is justified and truthful, the methods used to reach that outcome remain important to consider.

Another question this topic raised for me was whether the government should ban advertisements for products harmful to the population. Such a ban would benefit society as a whole. However, it would go against the rights of those involved in the advertisements. Therefore, regulating these products and their advertisements may be a better option than a ban altogether.

Finally, the discussion of marijuana advertisements made me consider this topic. While the use of marijuana is illegal at the federal level, several states, such as Colorado and New Jersey, have made the use of the drug legal. This can cause issues with advertisements that spread online across the country. While penalties for those in the advertising industry who comply with their state’s laws are unlikely, there are still ethical considerations regarding the regulation of such advertisements.

Thank You for Smoking made me think more deeply about the fact that those in the advertising and public relations fields must consider both legality and ethics when advertising products. As a student who is majoring in strategic communications, I need to understand the role and responsibilities of an advertiser.

EOTO

Many people interact with chatbots every day. From customer service to virtual assistants, there are a variety of chatbots in use today. However, the idea of creating machines capable of conversing with human beings dates back much further.

The first chatbot was created in the 1960s by Joseph Weizenbaum, a computer scientist at MIT. This program, named ELIZA, was designed to act as a chat between two psychotherapists. This program used keyword recognition to generate responses for users. For instance, if a user expresses sadness, the program

might respond, “Why do you feel sad?” The fact that the program could form such responses indicates that it was engaging with the user in a human manner. Some users even began forming emotional attachments to the program.

Even though this was not the developer's intention, it marked the start of a new technology. This was the first program to address the problem of how computers could interact with humans. In the 1990s, another program, ALICE, was developed. This program used natural language processing to converse with human beings. In the 2010s, many companies began to use chatbots for customer service. Using a chatbot to answer customer service questions allows a company to reduce the time it takes to provide answers and enables agents to assist multiple customers at once.

Currently, many chatbots use artificial intelligence and machine learning. For instance, programs such as ChatGPT, virtual assistants, and automated messaging systems allow people to interact with chatbots. These chatbots are used in a variety of fields. Specifically, in education and healthcare, automated tools that utilize natural language processing are in place to help carry out specific tasks.

The use of chatbots has significantly changed how humans communicate. People can quickly find information, communicate with businesses 24/7, and access the support they need. Companies can efficiently manage many communications and support customers worldwide.

However, there are a few concerns regarding these types of programs. One of the main concerns people may have is that they may not realize they are communicating with a machine. This can lead people to become frustrated with the chatbot when it does not understand their question. Another major concern is the privacy of the information that is shared with these chatbots. Additionally, people are likely concerned about the loss of customer service jobs due to the widespread use of chatbots.

Despite future challenges these chatbots may face, their use is growing. The use of chatbots will be a vital feature of human communication. What began as a simple program in the 1960s has evolved to become a vital technology. As the sophistication of artificial intelligence increases, chatbots will evolve, enabling even more advanced interactions between humans and technology.