Computer: Artificial Intelligence: Algorithm
eBay AI-generated text translator   (+2)  [vote for, against]

There's a new feature on eBay where sellers can get an AI tool to write their product description. This is, of course, a terrible idea. The resulting descriptions are much longer and much less informative than the 'old-style' descriptions written by the seller. For example, a recent AI-generated product description I saw for a pair of walking boots starts: "Explore the great outdoors with these high-quality walking boots", and goes on " ...these boots are perfect for hiking and camping adventures ... with a UK shoe size of 9.5 these boots are the perfect fit for any man ...", and so on.

So, this idea is for an AI tool to translate this verbose, uninformative drivel back into a terse, factual bullet-point description.
-- hippo, Jul 02 2024

ChatGPT is bullshit [Hicks et al] https://link.spring.../s10676-024-09775-5
References Harry G. Frankfurt's 2005 book "On Bullshit" for arriving at a suitable definition: Speech intended to persuade without regard for truth. [zen_tom, Jul 02 2024]

Can it also translate oft-used euphemisms into plain speech?

e.g.

"Not tested" = We tested it and it definitely does not work, though technically, there is an outside chance approaching but not exactly zero that it might have fixed itself since then.

"Would benefit from some TLC" = It's too bulky for me to conveniently get it disposed of down the tip.

"Vintage" = Worn out

"Classic" = Worn out but with a recognisable brand

A similar set of translations could be applied to other commonly found formats like estate agent listings, or lonely hearts ads (or whatever the modern equivalent of those is these days)
-- zen_tom, Jul 02 2024


[+]

Sounds like another variation of being able to adjust your answers to stop the blather. I know sometimes AI doesn't know when to shut up.
-- doctorremulac3, Jul 02 2024


//Sounds like another variation of being able to adjust your answers…//

Huh? This is something for buyers on eBay to use to help understand the AI-generated waffle that sellers have in their auction descriptions.
-- hippo, Jul 02 2024


Synergistically, despite not bought anything on eBay for ages now, I broke the streak by putting in a bid for an old lawn-mower just today.

"AI" meaning "generated text" is really doing "AI", meaning "Artificial Intelligence" and Machine Learning a disservice these days, I read an academic paper the other day that cements this to a fairly unequivocal degree.
-- zen_tom, Jul 02 2024



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