Will New eBay AI Tool Make It Easier for Sellers to Cheat?

by: lessthanthreerecords

eBay doesn't need ChatGPT to copy details that shouldn't be copied. As long as eBay has used their catalog, they have copied details that are either altogether incorrect or unique to one specific item.  For example, I have seen edition numbers copied into the catalog description or title countless times.  An item might be individually numbered out of 500, and one seller claims (most likely truthfully) that they are selling number 32/500.  When eBay steals their title and applies it to all items in the edition, it makes it look like multiple items have the same edition number, generally meaning that they are pirated copies.  Of course, these sellers are not all selling the same edition number, but buyers would not realize that.  The takeover by AI is only going to make things go from bad to worse, but it is by no means the cause of these problems that have been going on for years.

by: LDWCallsOut

I've had other sellers copy parts of my listing text verbatim ever since I started selling online in 2002.  So, in my view, the issue with AI generated text won't be limited to copycat listings.

What bothers me is sellers outright fabricating info about their products whether the item is vintage or newly bought wholesale from Ali Express.  

The worst example I ever saw was on Etsy where a seller bought a stabilized turquoise chunk necklace for less than $5 from China and listed it as a Sleeping Beauty turquoise necklace crafted by a Native American artisan in the 1980s.  All the photos were copied from the Chinese manufacturer and appeared all over the web:  eBay, Amazon, various small retail accessory boutique sites.  

I am not an expert on how ChatGPT is able to distinguish fact from fable, if at all.  Humans know that finding some text or an image on the internet doesn't automatically mean that it's real.  Does AI know how to verify information?

by: RL15

seems like another not needed scheme from the walmart dope.

by: pace306

FIXED

Will New eBay AI Tool Make It Easier for BUYERS to Cheat?

I see this site has become an eBay cheerleader - where sellers are always the bad guys.

At least - I may get a shot at correcting the horrid title along with the offending information contained in it.

eBay will let sellers auto-generate text for listing descriptions using ChatGPT AI (Artificial Intelligence), according to eBay CEO Jamie Iannone. But that could make it harder for sellers when buyers try condemn, lie, cheat and steal to find fault with their products. Sellers already put in painstaking work they list their items and will now have to deal with AI generated fake returns requests, complaints and more.

It is well known of the high level of eBay's proclivity to place all blame for all things on the backs of its sellers, and the obvious criticism that has been leveled against generative AI programs like ChatGPT. This new torrent of data, made available to buyers lets them publish "new returns versions of it as their own" material and create returns without "a care in the world".

Never mind what it will do do VERO and how will help eBay rid itself of those nasty sellers who just wish to avail themselves and use the laws created by congress to sell things unhindered by eBays beloveds (god forbid the flow of free cash becomes a trickle!)

If eBay leverages ChatGPT as a way for buyers to use existing returns descriptions to create their own cases, that could not only be devastating to the sellers who worked hard to create sales, it also has the potential to harm the entire selling experience by publishing inaccurate information in AI-generated returns.

Is the vintage piece of glassware trying to be returned by buyer A really the same in every way, including condition, as the item purchased in the sellers listing? Is it fair for the Seller to have to deal with "auto generated ChatGPT" returns?

These ARE valid concerns, and it's clear that THIS website - one that usually supports sellers, feels that its not really an issue - at least not one worth making a column about. Generative AI's ability to automate returns tasks, and generate fake (most of them are fake) VERO issues is irresistible to eBay (that extra %5 is looking mighty attractive about now), and the potential to destroy a sellers account doesnt seem to be on ANYONES (eBay or ecommercebytes) horizon.

As a seller, are you concerned with the potential evil that ChatGPT can and will do to your account, simply because eBay can then lower its head count in both CS and VERO - making it all anti-seller issues automated to the dismay and disgust of sellers?

by: Fruitylovesyou

MY GOD Pace just tell her you want more articles about AI lol
I think the scrapping can lead to alot of infringement.. On eBay if they use it to generate listings I think you gotta be very careful that you're proofing it

I started reading up about the so in general as well as chatgpt last weekend. I'm excited to try it out but Im not selling anywhere...I just want to see what I can create but I think there is a big danger overall in what is initially being generated to stockup companies catalogs that's how you get credits. I read an article about getty going ballistic over AI

by: Fruitylovesyou

Oh and another thing.. Why isn't eBay giving out credits for the AI contributions that will be generated. That's what alot of the companies are doing you can get a ton of credits instead of paying for the software

by: Andy

@pace306:
> If eBay leverages ChatGPT as a way for buyers to use existing
> returns descriptions to create their own cases, that could not only
> be devastating to the sellers who worked hard to create sales, it
> also has the potential to harm the entire selling experience by
> publishing inaccurate information in AI-generated returns.

What ''returns descriptions'' are you referring to? Buyers need only click the Not As Described return request and choose a reason like ''Doesn't seem authentic'' and the return label will be issued. They don't need to provide any details and no photos. I don't see where ChatGPT would enter the returns process, as the buyers don't need to justify anything in the first place.

I can see a lot of worthless ChatGPT selling descriptions getting generated, but at the same time I don't think it's going to come up with fifty different descriptions for the same product being listed by fifty different sellers. All the product descriptions will end up sounding more alike than before, and anyone actually writing their own description instead will stand out from the crowd.

by: BargainzBabylon

It doesn't matter. Any description should be vetted by the seller before going live. If they use Chat to formulate a description and it generates inaccuracies and the seller doesn't bother to review it, then it's on the seller.

Similar to Voice Recognition which had people in a tizzy - it still needed to be edited due to liability issues.

Also, maybe it will help end the silly descriptions that are simply a repeat of the title.  

by: JusTrains

AI? ''Out damn AI, Out'' from a well known theatre play.

Here's an article on AI be the ''grandfather'' of the tech... and he quit Google over it... so be ye wary.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/godfather-of-ai-quits-googl
e-to-warn-about-scary-technology_5234008.html?utm_source=MB_article_paid&src_src=MB_article_paid&utm_campaign=mb-2023-05-02-ca&src_cmp=mb-2023-05-02-ca&utm_medium=email&est=poYGCw0BJtUtgpZ07y3D0UNYQCfEMdiHO%2FfYPwCJwE6HzZMHpWd4cuH7fCw%3D&utm_term=news6&utm_content=6&fbclid=IwAR3XVht7BOe6wISy1Xj6IGHyc2dN9uluTeLYLc0_A-8jpPpRi_5pz_AY_d4

by: Sierra

AI needs to be included in a site's robots.txt file. Since this file can already keep pages from being indexed, why couldn't it be used to stop AI too?

by: ScottLBrown

I believe that the issue of copying part or all of another sellers lising has always been there.  Now it will just be more sellers using those data sets.  
The larger issue is a question:  How smart is the AI to differentiate between brands, models, meaning "uniqueness's" between products. Pulling data from similar product to a sellers actual product?  

The marketplaces are strict on complaints and thus it will be up to each sellers to properly review their listings prior to posting - - Just a few compaints can get an item and then a seller kicked off the platforms.

I do foresee a major uptick in customer complaints while this issue is learned by the sellers which obviously will be bad for for Customer Experience and trust in the marketplaces.  

Those that take heed now will save their reputations.

by: Psquare75

I mean.. I already use chatgpt to some.of my descriptions so...

by: pace306

"MY GOD Pace just tell her you want more articles about AI "

I DONT want more articles on Ai.

My comments were that the VERY FIRST thing that came to mind (on this site about this tech) was that "the bad old mean rotten nasty SELLERS" were going to use this super duper fancy tech to cheat and swindle the POOR SAD UNFORTUNATE eBay BUYERS, when theres no evidence that this is the case.

At least %50 of eBay listings have NO descriptions or text in them. They post 1 line (same as the title), show 3-4 pics and the rest is a copy of their "about me" page.

Maybe its MY fault, since I never post an item for sale with out specs/and or a description (but being in retail/wholesale since 1984 can do that to you).

"What ''returns descriptions'' are you referring to? "

Using the Ai to come up with fancy fake descriptions of supposed defects. True on Scambay you dont need more then a CLICK and MAYBE 1 line - but this is eBay - a company thats known for its poor treatment of sellers.

by: Rexford

eBay using AI kind of reminds me of when ex Texas Governor puts on his smart glasses.  I can see it now--eBay starts punishing sellers for the use of the very technology that they  put into sellers' hands.

There is a reason that  Geoffrey Hinton, the so called ‘Godfather of AI,’  left his role at Google to speak out about the dangers of the technology he helped to develop.  Take heed.

by: Sierra

@Rexford - This is true! Google is a challenging place to get hired ... so I seriously doubt people leave their Google job unless they have a VERY good reason to do so. And this is (or certainly could be) one of those reasons. AI is fascinating but dangerous at the same time.  

by: The End

A.I. is the Pandora's Box of all time.
So much suffering and damage will occur.
This is the biggest mistake man will ever make.

by: elcheapoposters

I'll pass. I don't need AI to write the year, make,, model, and color for me. I'm unclear who would benefit from using AI descriptions as buyers don't even read them.

by: Rexford

If machines are doing a large portion humans' thinking and tasks what will that do as it relates to the onset of early Alzheimer's .

by: Snapped

Pace, FWIW, I read “sellers” in the OP to mean those who actually are not, but would fraudulently pretend to be by using AI as a convenience tool.  No doubt they’re out there either.  And buyers. Equal opportunity ripe for abuse.

One thing often overlooked in the whole AI question - except by those who may ‘dramatically’ warn of caution - is that once control is relinquished, you no longer have any.  What’s left is at best an illusion of control.  This is true of trusting AI or of any other ‘creative’ entity with it.  

Should those who can wake up soon enough, it can be at least made - compelled by law in a perfect world - visible and obvious.  Every online submission by or assisted by AI needs to be identified as such.  Like the surgeon general’s warning on a pack of smokes.    

by: AddyUp

"Every online submission by or assisted by AI needs to be identified as such.  Like the surgeon general’s warning on a pack of smokes."

Instead of................

"Item description from the seller"

Perhaps in some future cases it should be............

"Item description from the chat bot AI"