AI systems that “feel magical” can also be seen as manipulative.

Recent research from Griffith University shines light on a growing issue: 

AI-induced consumer vulnerability: the uneasy sense people get when smart systems seem to manipulate choices or mask how things work. 

It’s not a power and control thing, either.

Vulnerability creeps in when users don’t know why they saw a recommendation, or when they can’t override or question the system.

If you build smart, connected, or personalized features, transparency isn’t optional.

It’s your differentiator, and a trust bridge to the customer.

Show users why they saw a suggestion.

Offer an “explainable mode” that reveals which signals triggered a choice.

Let them override the AI.

Let them reset its assumptions.

In saturated markets, the product that respects users’ agency often wins.

Want to make your product irresistible? That’s what we do as product marketing consultants at Graphos Product, helping innovators turn need-driven ideas into market-ready successes.