Introduction to AI-Powered Lock Screens
On an average day, you might unlock or look at your phone dozens of times, which makes the lock screen a hot property for advertising. Ad tech company Glance has been taking advantage of that for years with its ad-laden lock screen experiences, but it’s going further in the age of AI. Samsung and Glance have teamed up to deliver a new "AI shopping" experience that uses a selfie to create custom fashion ads. This feature is rolling out to numerous Samsung phones in the next month.
How Glance Works
Glance has been around for a while—its non-AI lock screen experience has been bundled on various phones from Samsung, Motorola, and others. Before the AI era, Glance lured people in with promises of pretty pictures and news alerts, which came with a side of ads and tracking. The new Glance AI feature has all that, but it adds an unsettling face-stealing layer to the experience.
The AI-Infused Glance Experience
The AI-infused Glance will arrive on Samsung phones as both a standalone app and a fully integrated lock screen. Thankfully, this is a fully opt-in experience. If you never open or set up Glance, you can keep using the normal lock screen on your phone.
How AI Shopping Works
Should you choose to wade into the murky waters of AI shopping, Glance will have you take a selfie and provide some basic body type details. From there, it uses Google Gemini and Imagen to create fashion ads tailored to you—because they are you. Your lock screen will be populated with images of you "in outfits and destinations [you] would never imagine." Naturally, you will be able to buy the looks chosen for you with a tap, which fills Glance’s coffers.
Conclusion
The introduction of AI-powered lock screens is a significant development in the world of advertising and technology. With the ability to create custom fashion ads using a selfie, Glance is taking personalized advertising to a new level. While this feature may be exciting for some, it also raises concerns about privacy and the use of personal data.
FAQs
- What is Glance, and how does it work?
Glance is an ad tech company that offers a lock screen experience with ads and tracking. The new AI-powered feature uses a selfie to create custom fashion ads. - Is the AI-infused Glance experience optional?
Yes, the AI-infused Glance experience is fully opt-in, meaning you can choose not to use it and stick with your normal lock screen. - How does Glance use my data?
Glance uses your selfie and basic body type details to create fashion ads tailored to you. Your data is used to populate your lock screen with images of you in different outfits and destinations. - Can I buy the looks chosen for me by Glance?
Yes, you can buy the looks chosen for you with a tap, which fills Glance’s coffers.
