Uber Adds AI Disclosure to Marketing Emails: A New Era of Spam?

If your inbox is anything like mine, it’s likely overflowing with marketing emails—some useful, most not. But a recent email from Uber caught my attention for an unexpected reason. Nestled near the “Unsubscribe” link was a small but notable disclosure: “Images or text may have been created or edited with AI.” This marks one of the first times I’ve seen a company openly admit to using AI in its marketing communications. Uber and Uber Eats reportedly began including this disclaimer just last week, with the first such email appearing on February 27th.

Since then, I’ve received six emails from the company, all bearing the same AI disclosure. While Uber isn’t the first brand to use AI in marketing, it’s among the first to be transparent about it. This move raises questions about the growing role of AI in crafting promotional content. Is this a step toward greater transparency, or simply a way to justify more spam? I find it a bit jarring—receiving unsolicited emails is annoying enough, but knowing they’re churned out by AI feels like a new low. As AI continues to infiltrate marketing strategies, we’ll likely see more brands following Uber’s lead. But will consumers appreciate the honesty, or will it further alienate them from impersonal, automated outreach? Have you spotted similar AI disclosures in emails from other companies? Let us know—Uber certainly isn’t alone in this trend.
Source.