angel dusting

Definition

Adding just enough of a trendy ingredient or feature to claim it in marketing materials, despite it having zero meaningful impact. The corporate equivalent of sprinkling glitter on a turd.

Example Usage

Their 'AI-powered' tool is pure angel dusting—it's just a basic algorithm with machine learning buzzwords slapped on.

Origin

Borrowed from the supplement industry, where manufacturers add trace amounts of expensive ingredients for label appeal

Fun Fact

The practice became so rampant in tech marketing that some industry watchdogs now specifically call out angel dusting in product reviews.

Source: Marketing ethics and product positioning terminology

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