How MyBranz fights fake online reviews to save the planet — and your wallet with Janani Kumar, Founder of MyBranz

A few months ago, in August 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a final rule banning fake reviews and testimonials, a rule that will allow to deter AI-generated fake reviews by prohibiting fake or false consumer reviews, consumer testimonials, and celebrity testimonials for instance. Now, if you have ever been online shopping, you know that this decision is pretty groundbreaking. How many of us have been deceived by fake reviews before buying a product? Not only is it a waste of money, but also in the midst of a climate crisis, it's an additional waste and it’s very detrimental to our environment. Joining us today is Janani Kumar, the founder of MyBranz. Janani knew something had to be done way before the FTC even made a move. MyBranz is a software accessible online that promotes transparency at every step of the consumer journey by leveraging AI to provide verified reviews from across the web to help users find the best brands and products based on lawful and real feedback, saving money and helping the environment at the same time. In this episode, we explored the sources and impacts of online fake reviews, consumer trust, and what the FTC ruling means for users.https://www.mybranz.com/

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Shifting the narrative from Big Tech to Responsible Tech by sharing & archiving the work of change makers.At the intersection of technology and social justice, Activists Of Tech is a seasonal weekly podcast dedicated to the amplification and archival of minority voices among activists, thought leaders, academics, and practitioners of responsible tech. Shifting the narrative from Big Tech to responsible tech takes honesty: this is a "say it as it is" type of podcast, and no topic is too taboo not to be named and addressed.The topics covered encompass a variety of responsible tech areas and focus on social justice, AI harm, AI bias, AI regulation and advocacy, minorities in tech, gender equality, tech and democracy, social media, and algorithmic recommendations, to name a few. We also talk about solutions and how to make tech inclusive and beneficial for all.