Artificial Intelligence (AI) has disrupted a wide range of industries and eCommerce is no exception. Whether your eCommerce business is using AI to work more efficiently with the help of automations, or personalizing aspects of your customer’s journey with unique messaging, it’s growing at a hyper-accelerated pace. In fact, almost 85% of eCommerce brands are in the process of prioritizing AI solutions or leveraging them directly for their business needs.
But when it comes to reviews, AI also has the potential to lead to inauthentic content. And with a lack of authenticity and/or bot content, come regulations. For example, Google recently issued a statement about a new AI-related policy for Product Ratings.
Google’s new Product Ratings Policy
The Google Merchant Center has announced that starting August 28, 2023, the platform will no longer allow reviews to be generated with the help of AI or any other forms of content automation. AI-generated reviews should be marked as spam by the merchant once identified using <is_spam> within their feed.
Google has also provided clarifications around other Product Ratings policies such as spam, dangerous products or acts, conflicts of interest, duplicated content, and so much more.
Dedicated to fulfilling their policies, Google has stated that they use both automated and human evaluation to make sure that review submissions adhere to their regulations. Any businesses that violate these policies will receive disapproving violations and/or warnings.
Authentic content with Yotpo Reviews
As a Reviews solution, we know the true value of authentic content and we’re committed to helping brands create transparent review experiences for their customers.
With the continued advancements of AI, we recommend:
- Staying up to date with AI regulations and understanding how they might affect your eCommerce business
- Building trust with your customers by promoting an environment of authenticity and two-way communication
- Using your best judgment — if reviews look fake or suspicious, follow moderation best practices as outlined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
With brands leveraging AI more extensively, we can expect to see more regulations from Google and other platforms to ensure that businesses can maximize their full potential.
