International Peer-Reviewed Journal•Open Access•ISSN 2456-8880
irejournals@gmail.com•+91-7433024337

Home / Current Issue / Paper 1717958

1717958 Vol 9 · Issue 11 Download Paper

AI in Customer Locality for Ethical Brands

Dr. Mousmi Goel Nirbhay Pandey Anisha Kumari Jha

Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology  ·  Area of research: Artificial Intelligence

DOI: 10.64388/IREV9I11-1717958

Abstract

In an era where consumers are increasingly skeptical of "faceless" corporations, ethical brands face a unique challenge: how to scale their impact without losing their soul. This paper explores the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Hyper-local Marketing, specifically focusing on how AI can be a catalyst for genuine connection rather than just a tool for automation. While AI is often associated with cold data, this research demonstrates its potential to help ethical brands listen more deeply to the specific needs, cultural nuances, and sustainability concerns of local communities. By leveraging AI-driven insights, brands can move beyond generic messaging to provide value that feels personal and locally relevant. The study emphasizes that the "intelligence" in AI should be used to enhance transparency and build trust, ensuring that a brand’s ethical mission translates effectively across diverse geographical contexts. Ultimately, this research suggests that when AI is guided by a brand’s core values, it doesn't replace the human touch—it amplifies it.

Keywords

Ethical Branding, Artificial Intelligence, Hyper-local Engagement, Consumer Trust, Sustainable Marketing.

References

[1] Agrawal, A., Gans, J., & Goldfarb, A. (2018). Prediction machines: The simple economics of artificial intelligence. Harvard Business Review Press.

[2] Belk, R., Humayun, M., & Brouard, M. (2022). Money, possessions, and ownership in the Metaverse: Digital transitions and the evolution of consumerism. Journal of Business Research, 144, 1032–1042.

[3] Chintalapati, S., & Pandey, S. K. (2022). Artificial intelligence in marketing: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Information Management Data Insights, 2(1), 100057.

[4] Davenport, T. H., Guha, A., Grewal, D., & Bressgott, T. (2020). How artificial intelligence will change the future of marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 48(1), 24–42.

[5] de Bruyn, A., Viswanathan, V., Beh, Y. S., Brock, J. K. U., & von Wangenheim, F. (2020). Artificial intelligence and marketing: Pitfalls and opportunities. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 51(1), 91–105.

[6] Du, S., & Xie, C. (2021). Paradoxes of artificial intelligence in consumer markets: Ethical challenges and opportunities for brands. Journal of Business Research, 129, 969–981.

[7] Dwivedi, Y. K., Ismagilova, E., Hughes, D. L., Carlson, J., Filieri, R., Jacobson, J., ... & Wang, Y. (2021). Setting the future of digital and social media marketing research: Perspectives and propositions. International Journal of Information Management, 59, 102168.

[8] Grewal, D., Hulland, J., Kopalle, P. K., & Karahanna, E. (2020). The future of technology and marketing: A multidisciplinary perspective. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 48(1), 1–8.

[9] Haenlein, M., & Kaplan, A. (2019). A brief history of artificial intelligence: On the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence. California Management Review, 61(4), 5–14.

[10] Herman, J., & Bartoli, A. (2026). Hyper-localism and the digital soul: Marketing in the age of AI. Oxford University Press.

[11] Huang, M. H., & Rust, R. T. (2021). Engaged to a robot? The role of AI in service. Journal of Service Research, 24(1), 30–41.

[12] Jha, A. K., & Goel, M. (2026). The prudence model: Integrating XAI for local brand resonance. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 43(2), 215–230.

[13] Kaplan, A., & Haenlein, M. (2020). Rulers of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence. Business Horizons, 63(1), 37–50.

[14] Kotler, P., Kartajaya, H., & Setiawan, I. (2021). Marketing 5.0: Technology for humanity. John Wiley & Sons.

[15] Kumar, V., Rajan, B., Venkatesan, R., & Lecinski, J. (2019). Understanding the role of artificial intelligence in personalized engagement marketing. California Management Review, 61(4), 135–159.

[16] Larivière, B., Bowen, D., Andreassen, T. W., Kunz, W., Sirianni, N. J., Voss, C., ... & Casado-Díaz, A. B. (2017). “Service Encounter 2.0”: An investigation into the roles of technology, employees and customers. Journal of Business Research, 79, 238–246.

[17] Lobschat, L., Mueller, B., Eggers, F., Brandstätter, M., Frischmann, B., & Wertenbroch, K. (2021). Corporate digital responsibility. Journal of Business Research, 122, 875–888.

[18] Longoni, C., Fradkin, A., Luca, M., & Jung, G. W. (2022). Algorithmic bias in marketing: A review and research agenda. Journal of Marketing Research, 59(4), 850–868.Martin, K., & Murphy, P. E. (2017). The role of data privacy in marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 45(2), 135–155.

[19] Mikalef, P., & Gupta, M. (2021). Artificial intelligence capability: Conceptualization, measurement scaling, and validity. Neurocomputing, 454, 423–439.

[20] Ngestu, T., & Pandey, N. (2026). Scaling ethics: How AI preserves brand soul in local markets. Journal of Business Ethics, 182(3), 567–585.

[21] Overgoor, G., Chica, M., Rand, W., & Weishampel, A. (2019). Letting the computers take over: Using AI to solve marketing problems. California Management Review, 61(4), 156–185.

[22] Palmatier, R. W., & Martin, K. D. (2019). The intelligent marketer's guide to data privacy. Palgrave Macmillan.

[23] Puntoni, S., Reczek, R. W., Giesler, M., & Castelo, N. (2021). Consumers and artificial intelligence: An experiential perspective. Journal of Marketing, 85(1), 131–151.

[24] Rai, A. (2020). Explainable AI: From prediction to understanding. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 48(1), 137–141.

[25] Rust, R. T. (2020). The future of marketing is digital, personalized, and adaptive. Journal of Marketing, 84(1), 122–125.

[26] Schmitt, B. (2019). Speciesism: An ethical issue in human–AI interactions. Journal of Business Ethics, 160(4), 1–12.

[27] Spanjol, J., & Noble, C. H. (2026). Sustainable technology integration in white goods: A hyper-local approach. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 43(1), 12–29.

[28] Verhoef, P. C., Broekhuizen, T., Bart, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Dong, J. Q., Fabian, N., & Haenlein, M. (2021). Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 122, 889–901.

[29] Wirtz, J., Patterson, P. G., Kunz, W. H., Gruber, T., Lu, V. N., Paluch, S., & Martins, A. (2018). Brave new world: Service robots in the frontline. Journal of Service Management, 29(5), 907–931.

How to cite this paper

Dr. Mousmi Goel, Nirbhay Pandey, Anisha Kumari Jha "AI in Customer Locality for Ethical Brands" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 11 2026 Page 2874-2884 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717958
Dr. Mousmi Goel, Nirbhay Pandey, Anisha Kumari Jha "AI in Customer Locality for Ethical Brands" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 9, no. 11, May. 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717958
Dr. Mousmi Goel, Nirbhay Pandey, Anisha Kumari Jha (2026). AI in Customer Locality for Ethical Brands. Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(11). doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717958
Dr. Mousmi Goel, Nirbhay Pandey, Anisha Kumari Jha "AI in Customer Locality for Ethical Brands" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 9, no. 11, May. 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717958
@article{1717958,
      author = {Dr. Mousmi Goel, Nirbhay Pandey, Anisha Kumari Jha},
      title = {AI in Customer Locality for Ethical Brands},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {9},
      number = {11},
      pages = {2874-2884},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1717958.pdf},
      abstract = {In an era where consumers are increasingly skeptical of "faceless" corporations, ethical brands face a unique challenge: how to scale their impact without losing their soul. This paper explores the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Hyper-local Marketing, specifically focusing on how AI can be a catalyst for genuine connection rather than just a tool for automation. While AI is often associated with cold data, this research demonstrates its potential to help ethical brands listen more deeply to the specific needs, cultural nuances, and sustainability concerns of local communities. By leveraging AI-driven insights, brands can move beyond generic messaging to provide value that feels personal and locally relevant. The study emphasizes that the "intelligence" in AI should be used to enhance transparency and build trust, ensuring that a brand’s ethical mission translates effectively across diverse geographical contexts. Ultimately, this research suggests that when AI is guided by a brand’s core values, it doesn't replace the human touch—it amplifies it.},
      keywords = {Ethical Branding, Artificial Intelligence, Hyper-local Engagement, Consumer Trust, Sustainable Marketing.},
      month = {May},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717958}
  }