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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

You may need to update to the most recent version, but the ChatGPT powered AI description generator is now live in the Android and iOS eBay apps.

 

In the listing flow, tap the AI description icon in the bottom right and the new description will automatically populate.

 

I haven't played around with it too much, but here are a couple examples generated from very basic title info.

 

ebaychatgpt4.jpeg

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ebaychatgpt7.jpeg

 

Anyone else tried it out yet?

 

Message 1 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App


@bwoodruff wrote:

Actually, we started rolling out an update to sellers in a limited ramp which is typical of all companies today when  introducing new features.  This also coincided with a new update from the Android and iOS clients.  However, a bug in the client logic exposed the experience without the surrounding service details (button label, undo button, banner explaining the optional generative model, etc.) which created a broken user experience and confusion when found by sellers who had just download/installed the Android update.   They were not intended to see these changes at this point in time.   It was a bug.  This did not affect the iOS experience.

 

The unintended consequence of this bug was exposing a broken experience for a feature that we have been actively collecting feedback from our sellers.   The actual feedback has been very positive and this feature has been very effective for many sellers.   Depending on your listing category & details (title & aspects), your mileage may vary.


@bwoodruff from the ID and depth of knowledge shown here, I'm guessing you might be VP Seller Experience Engineering?

 

If so, thanks for stopping by to answer questions about this! It's always great to see eBay execs engaging directly here in the community.

 

I understand the feature is still in phased testing, but is there any additional insight you can share about how the feature works and what those of us who were exposed to the bug-induced broken user experience were missing?

 

Was it just some ux/ui elements like the buttons and banners that were missing or is there a significant difference in the functionality from what we were seeing as well?

Message 46 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

@valueaddedresource Yes, that's correct, and thank you  -- I'll use an @ebay official account to respond in the future. 

 

To answer your question, I'm including some screen shots below from the iOS experience.   We'll be further enabling this for additional sellers over the course of the next few weeks as we continue to adjust based on feedback.

 

The AI generated description is completely optional.    We have a banner indicating the new feature when it is enabled.   The description editing (or during item creation) is the same as it has always been, with the exception of a new button to generate an AI description.  You can undo it if you don't like the generated text. 

 

The screens below show how this works.   Hope this helps.

 

The first is the listing summary where you would typically add or edit a description.  

IMG_0627.PNG

 

From the item description page, you can choose to use the AI description.

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You can undo if you do not like the generated description or otherwise edit/accept it. 

IMG_0629.PNG

Selecting done takes you back to the listing summary where you can save/cancel edits.

IMG_0630.PNG

 

Message 47 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

Thanks @bwoodruff - that does help! Looking forward to seeing it in action as it rolls out to more users in the coming weeks.

Message 48 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

One final note (and from my @ebay account this time), this is all completely optional - the traditional description editor remains the same: simply ignore the button and enter your own text, click done.

Message 49 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App


bryan@ebay wrote:

One final note (and from my @ebay account this time), this is all completely optional - the traditional description editor remains the same: simply ignore the button and enter your own text, click done.


Thanks again bryan@ebay . That logo looks good on you....hope we keep seeing you around!

Message 50 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App


@valueaddedresource wrote:

In the listing flow, tap the AI description icon in the bottom right and the new description will automatically populate.

 

ebaychatgpt7.jpeg


I can't help noticing the irony of that banner line in those screenshots when ChatGPT has been activated: "Now you're talkin'"

 

Obviously you're not talking; you're letting the AI pad your description instead. If I open a listing description and see a great sea of glop like that, I'm going to assume that it's going to be only vaguely accurate at best, and I will need to pick out the relevant details from amongst all that verbiage.

Message 51 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

I started using the AI tool about 8 days ago and found it useful but very wordy.  I complete title and specifics before using and it incorporated the great majority of that information.  I then modify, add and rearrange content but leaving good portion of content provided.  Very easy to use and saves me time.  

 

A few issues: 

 

As some else pointed out, if you select the AI option it erases any content you already had.  I just cut my own out then repaste at the bottom and work it into the description or delete what is repetitive.  

It’s too soon to tell if impacting sales especially since sales have been slow, however, I had 2 items sell with an hour of listing 2 days in a row which maybe a positive sign. 

BUT…my overall sales have dropped about 30% in past month.  I researched and discover none of my listings were appearing in google even with exact title and adding eBay to search terms.  Same listing crosslisted were showing up from other platforms.  Research on seller hub showed internal traffic had jumped like 30% but external dropped 35%.  Whether or not this odd change is related to AI is not known and the drop appears to have started earlier 5/19.  In talking with text support no real explanation but had me bulk edit reset my listings saying I should notice a change in traffic within 72 hrs.  We shall see.  

THEN..this afternoon when I went to finish some drafts and new listings but the AI button is gone.  So did eBay take it down, was it somehow related to the reset or opting to use seller hub, who knows?  Contact tech support and they claim it will be fixed without explaining what happened.  

Thus far I like the AI tool and found it helpful and likely increasing internal traffic but if it’s somehow killing my external traffic then won’t be using it.  At this point reserving judgement.  

For perspective-I’m a very small top rated seller (< 100 listings now only 65) of mostly clothing.  Listing is not always consistent but when I am only list 2-3 items a day.  

 

 

Message 52 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

Be careful using this AI tool. You must read every word afterwards to make sure it doesn't over-sell or over- hype your items, especially used items. This could put your listings at risk of INAD's.

I tinkered with it when it came out and decided that with my sales already down 45%, it was too risky for me, as I sell mostly used items.

Message 53 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App


@turnpiketreasures1 wrote:

I don't get it at all. If you have to add more details in order to get a description that isn't just like a cut and paste thing for the item you're selling, then why not write it yourself. We need to perhaps ignore AI for things like this because if we don't we will soon be a society of people who not only don't know how to write a simple sentence, they'll be unable to carry on a conversation, or deal with sales people, or even talk to their family. There is great danger in using AI for things like this. It has a purpose, but writing descriptions for things you sell on eBay, shouldn't be one of them. Our brains are going to turn to mush very quickly if we keep finding ways to not use them. 


School instruction is already leading this way.

Lift your left leg at midnight to start off on the right foot. Happy new Year!
Message 54 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App


@pls-consignments wrote:

Be careful using this AI tool. You must read every word afterwards to make sure it doesn't over-sell or over- hype your items, especially used items.


Speaking of which, I was disappointed that the sample screenshots posted by @bwoodruff in a reply above (here) didn't extend to the end of the ChatGPT text that was generated, as I was curious to see what it produced in response to the input phrase "Super soft, only worn once."

Message 55 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

My primary motivation in giving AI a trail run is to see if I can save time in writing the description but also to see if there is an impact on sales.  

 

Because I sell clothing, I add measurements and anything AI missed.  I also highlight condition separately. I remove content to streamline and for accuracy.  Thus far AI written descriptions haven’t exaggerated to where I feel I’m at risk for an INAD.  


The content generated is coming direct from the specifics I complete but AI uses a narrative style using more adjectives than I generally use.  If you didn’t fill out the specifics first think there is greater risk of an inaccurate description.  Mine have been spot on just way too “flowery” language and wordy for my liking. 

 

My descriptions are lengthy as compared to most resellers due to the nature of the product (clothing) and because I crosslist using the eBay description on other platforms where the description is the primary source of information for the buyer.  Many resellers on eBay simply use their title as their description.  I’m always amazed anyone can sell clothing that way! 

Historically, I have used a straightforward bullet style approach.  AI descriptions via eBay’s tool generates a narrative style.  To me it’s way too wordy but does give me new ideas or words I hadn’t thought to use.  Personally, I prefer my bullet style but I’m willing to try it to see how buyers react although the great majority of buyers don’t read anyway.  LOL. 

 

Thus far, It has saved me a small amount of time.  I’m not comfortable accepting the AI description without making it my own.  If it had the option to modify to fit your own style it could save me more time.  I know chatgpt does offer that option but eBay doesn’t at this point.  

AI seems to be the way of the future and agree over time society will likely “dummy down”  becoming more dependent on technology than independent thought as we’ve seen over the past years.  Think calculators, gps and cellular phones.  Many young people lack basic math skills and can’t read a map.  Technology has resulted in many advances but there are significant negative societal impacts as well.  

Message 56 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

That's a common ask of including the current description as part of the prompt to the AI.   We'll experiment more with this to improve the generated description.

Message 57 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

Thanks eBay.  Sure it will improve over time.  It takes time to refine for user needs.  

 

Sadly, I haven’t been able to use the AI option because it is no longer an option on either my mobile or web version.  It disappeared as I explained in a previous post on this thread.  It’s supposed to be fixed but hasn’t been as if this evening.  Hopefully it will be restore soon.  

Message 58 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

It appears eBay has gotten those pesky bugs taken care of - I'm seeing the AI description generator in the latest update to the Android app and the surrounding service details (button label, undo button, banner explaining the optional generative model, etc.)  are all functioning correctly.

 

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Message 59 of 91
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ChatGPT AI Description Generator Now Available In eBay App

Too wordy.  Customers don't read descriptions but the gives too much fluff and too few real details.

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