It’s as awesome as it is terrifying. In China, more and more Internet users have started using generative AI to simulate defects on products ordered online. Perishable foods overflowing with mold, broken or damaged objects… the irony is palpable. While artificial intelligence has proliferated in recent years on e-commerce sites, creating its share of false advertisements and scams, consumers have just turned the situation to their advantage. More and more people are using AI to tamper with photos of received products. Objective ? Get a free refund or replacementcreating false, credible defects.
A scam that is growing
Imagine ordering your groceries online. Once your products are received, all you need is a quick trip to ChatGPT or NanoBanana to add a few imperfections. A message to after-sales service, and your products should quickly be reimbursed. Same thing for a product ordered on Amazon, arriving “broken”, or for your Deliveroo order completely soaked by the rain.
If the practice explodes in China, we can expect it to gain momentum here. Platforms will have to juggle consumer protection and the prevention of AI-related scams. Videos may be requested as proof, without it being possible to really attest to the veracity of an image. For sellers, these frauds represent a significant financial cost. For buyers, they help to complicate recourse in the event of a dispute. It is particularly on peer-to-peer sales platforms that the phenomenon can pose serious problems. Scams are already going well on Vinted and Leboncoin, they could intensify on both sides of the board, transforming transactions into a real headache.
We will have to regulate
This situation illustrates another major challenge of artificial intelligence. While the tool has already paved the way for numerous innovations, AI can also be misused in fraudulent or criminal contexts. You only need to see the use that students and hackers have made of it to be convinced. We will be careful here not to blame technology, which is only a tool at the service of our tortured minds. However, it becomes necessary to legally regulate these uses, otherwise online commerce will turn into a vast jungle.
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