AI Washing: The Latest False Advertising Battleground | 05 | 2026 | Publications - Debevoise
PushButton AI Team ·
AI Washing: The Latest False Advertising Battleground | 05 | 2026 | Publications - Debevoise
You bought the AI tool. Nobody used it. $200/month gone.
That's not your fault. That's "AI washing" — vendors slapping "AI-powered" on everything whether it actually does anything intelligent or not.
You bought the AI tool. Nobody used it. $200/month gone.
That's not your fault. That's "AI washing" — vendors slapping "AI-powered" on everything whether it actually does anything intelligent or not.
Here's what's happening in the market right now: regulators are starting to crack down on companies that market themselves as AI-driven without proof. Debevoise just published legal guidance on it. That means the hype is finally meeting accountability.
This matters for you because the confusion you feel is manufactured. Vendors made AI sound magical to charge more. Most tools you've been pitched are automation with a fancier label.
The good news? This shakeout makes your decision easier. Fewer snake oil options. More pressure on vendors to show real results.
One thing you can do this week: Before any AI demo, ask the vendor one question — "Show me a before and after workflow with a client in my industry." No case study, no ROI. An actual workflow. If they stall, walk away.
That single filter eliminates 80% of the wrong purchases.
What's the most oversold AI claim you've heard recently — and did the tool actually deliver?
