Research
AI chatbots are recommending fake retail websites, study finds
The Brief
- IP protection firm Podqi conducted a study, shared exclusively with The Verge, that prompted ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity with shopping queries.
- The study found that shoppers using AI chatbots to research products or find places to buy could be directed to imposter and other risky websites.
- The Verge's report is the source for these findings; the excerpt provided does not include further methodology or figures.
Why it matters
Developers building AI shopping or product-search features should assume chatbot answers and citations can point users to fake or risky retail sites, and plan safeguards accordingly.
Who’s affected
- Developers building AI shopping assistants or product-search features
- #ai-chatbots
- #e-commerce
- #fake-websites
- #research
- #shopping
Shoppers using AI chatbots to research products or find places to buy items could be directed to imposters and other risky websites, a new study found. The study conducted by IP protection firm Podqi and shared exclusively with The Verge prompted ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity…