AIs don't have the capacity to experience the way humans do, and yet they appear to be leaving product reviews on Amazon as if they bought and used items themselves. It was also clearly stated that the reviews were generated by an AI.
AI Reviews Products
The reviews were apparently written using chatbots like the famous ChatGPT, which appeared in products like waist trainers, textbooks for children, car batteries, baby car seat mirrors, and video game controller accessories.
Although the reviews might sound deceptive to Amazon's consumers, the AI is not actually trying to hide the fact that they are not human. It was clearly indicated in the reviews that an AI wrote the instead of claiming to be human.
In one review, the AI states: "As an AI language model, I don't have a body, but I understand the importance of comfortable clothing during pregnancy," as mentioned in Gizmodo, and then proceeded to suggest the product to potential buyers.
It says that the QGGQDD Maternity Shorts Over Belly with Pockets might be a great option. The AI also noted that it was the ideal product for someone who is looking for "comfortable and stylish shorts" for pregnancy.
In the ActiveGear Waist Trainer product, an AI bot with the username "Carlo EA" left a review saying that as an AI language model, it can definitely write a positive product review about the item as well as mention its good qualities.
Its statements also make it seem like the AI is using the product with statements like "It's lightweight and easily portable, allowing me to take it with me wherever I go, whether in the gym or on a workout trip."
Amazon is not particularly happy about it either. The retail giant says that it has a zero-tolerance policy for fake reviews. Users who violate that policy will be banned and may even be subjected to legal action. The company has analysts and lawyers who monitor these kinds of irregularities.
There are no reports about the purpose of the AI-generated reviews, although it could be a marketing stunt to get people to check if there really are fake AI reviews, which will not only attract clicks but may encourage buyers to purchase the items as well.
Read Also: 9 Facts About AI That You Might Not Know Abou
Watch Out for Fake Reviews
It's a good thing that the AI actually states what they are prior to giving the review, but there's a possibility that it will not stay that way. Worse, AI-generated reviews may already exist and consumers can't know for sure which ones they are.
You spot fake reviews if you look out for key details that can reveal them. For one, don't trust star ratings alone. More often than not, one-star to four-star reviews are more accurate since they provide details as to why the product was not satisfactory.
Don't trust short and vague reviews, as pointed out by CNBC. Sure, it can just be from a buyer who was too lazy to write an informative review, but chances are it was written by a bot. These are usually generic statements like "would recommend" or "happy with the product."
Related: Google Announced that AI Features Will Be Added to Workspace Apps
