# AI chatbots are recommending fake retail websites, study finds

Source: [AI | The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1032020/gemini-chatgpt-perplexity-shopping-test-risky-fake-websites-citations) · 2026-11-12 · AI
Page: https://themorning.dev/story/ai-chatbots-are-recommending-fake-retail-websites-study-finds-32933935200c2839
Kind: research · Impact: medium

## In 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.

## Coverage

- [AI chatbots are recommending fake retail websites, study finds](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1032020/gemini-chatgpt-perplexity-shopping-test-risky-fake-websites-citations) — AI | The Verge, 2026-11-12

Tags: ai-chatbots, e-commerce, fake-websites, research, shopping

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Dev – https://themorning.dev