Bookmark: Frustrated with today’s ‘attention economy’? You’re really going to hate what comes next

The concept of the “intention economy” refers to a digital market where companies prioritize predicting and monetizing individuals’ future behaviors and decisions rather than simply capturing their current attention. This emerging economic model is driven largely by advancements in AI, particularly through the deployment of AI chatbots and large language models (LLMs). These technologies gather and analyze user data to discern patterns, motivations, and potential actions, which are then commodified. The “attention economy,” by contrast, focuses on captivating consumer attention to sell ad space or products. The concern with the intention economy is its profound privacy implications, as it shifts control over personal data and foresight to corporate entities. Protection against such encroachments involves vigilant safeguarding of personal data, critically assessing consent terms, and fostering greater regulatory oversight to ensure ethical data use practices. Additionally, individuals need to be conscious of their engagements with AI tools and platforms, recognizing that even seemingly benign interactions may contribute to this predictive commodification.