AI descriptions are truly awful

[aramatic]

While some people may think AI descriptions are useful, to me as a buyer they're a red flag, suggesting that the seller is either lazy or know next to nothing about the item being sold. The cheesy 50s advertising language ("experience the thrill of...", "a must-have item", "buy one today") and the repetition of tired phrases from item to item ("sleek design", "vintage gem") are often at the expense of anything sensible relating to them item—like, for instance, does it actually work? In one bound some sellers have leapt from the uselessly brief "Condition is Used" (duh) to the uselessly inflated blather produced by AI. If you can't describe it yourself, how can you expect me to buy it?

[b86fiero]

I understand your concerns. I agree, AI should be an assistant, not a dictator.

Have you read the novel "Crucible" by James Rollins?  Lots of scientific facts about current iterations of AI woven into a thrill ride of a story about AI advancing beyond what humans have programmed into it. Once AI is smarter than all humans will it deem humans inferior? Then what happens? AI is already militarized and engaging perceived enemies.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

But...but...AI is a "must have" 

[toomuchstuffagain35]

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@inhawaii wrote:

Have you tasted the IA "flavored" Coke?  Yuck!

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Iowan Coke is different? Do tell?

[dwise3671]

The AI descriptions are indeed terrible. They provide no value. They are also often wrongly describing the item, which is a problem. Over hyped is an understatement with these descriptions. For example, my spouse wants to make a quilt from old bed sheets. The condition of some of these sheets on eBay is pretty gross. The AI descriptions really make it sound like you’re going to get a better product than is pictured. Setting the seller up for a return and a negative feedback. 

[redlinear]

All this is based on the pretext that buyers actually read listings 😂

[steve_stuff]

"Iowan Coke is different? Do tell?"

Actually back in 1973 when I went to college there it was and most likely still is - Just like the ones in CA and the ones here in New Mexico - at least to the cans I got in Brooklyn. It's the locally bottling with local water. The only thing that's the same in any can/bottle of coke is the syrup.

[byrd69er]

....or maybe compared to pulling the string on the back of a doll?

[byrd69er]

No, but I've snorted some.

[sfau]

I have used a couple because they are kind of funny -but I always have my own as well.

[25kenwood]

My concern is the unnecessary lengthiness of these descriptions. I don't read descriptions that are more than three sentences long myself. Buyers are going to miss pertinent information related to actual item condition if there is too much content to sift through. Maybe they would be fine for new items.

[ed8108]

Like it or not, Ebay AI described items will be in your future

[ed8108]

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@aramatic wrote:

 ("experience the thrill of...", "a must-have item", "buy one today")  ("sleek design", "vintage gem") are often at the expense of anything sensible relating to them item—

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AI  creating a desire for the item leading the buyer to expect they will experience pride of ownership & additional happiness within their life by the ownership & possession of this item.

[ed8108]

Readings in Consumer motivation & behavior can be valuable in helping you to construct different appeals to use in attempting to attract more buyers

[toomuchstuffagain35]

But isn't that really all Marketing 101 is about?

[marnotom!]

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@ajs_coins_and_alchemy wrote:

What's worst in your eyes. You can rank them if you like...

A) Nothing (blank description)

B) Repeated Title

C) AI Description

Let's be honest, someone who writes their own meaningful, carefully crafted, descriptions is unlikely to hand it over to AI very easily. At the "quality" or lack thereof currently found in AI descriptions now, seller will opt to continue writing their own. I think AI descriptions are ALTERNATIVES to blank descriptions or repeated titles....

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Don't forget Chinglish descriptions.  Those can be just as off-putting as AI.

And, yes, using AI is a seller's choice, and it will be up to the market to decide whether or not these sellers have made a wise choice.  Agree that AI descriptions were likely devised to be an alternative to just about anything except a well-crafted human-generated description.