Survey Shows 95.8% of Consumers Feel Uncertain Over AI-Generated Seller Images

China News Service reported on a survey by the social survey center of China Youth Daily and wenjuan.com, which collected 1334 valid questionnaires regarding AI seller showcases. The survey found that 95.8% of respondents felt uncertain when shopping online because of AI-generated product displays, which increased hesitation before placing orders. Additionally, over half of respondents clearly experienced pitfalls from AI product images, and 67.4% called for shopping platforms to upgrade image recognition and review systems to intercept misleading AI visuals. Among specific complaints about AI seller displays, 58.6% of respondents reported severe color discrepancies where hues and saturation did not match. Furthermore, 50.2% highlighted distortions in product silhouettes and details, while 45.6% pointed to matching artificial buyer reviews and images. Another 44.2% noted sellers falsely claiming AI-generated graphics were authentic product photos, and 36.9% observed fabricated material textures. To address misleading imagery, 56.8% of respondents expressed hope for detailed e-commerce regulations establishing clear red lines for AI promotional use. Meanwhile, 52.9% advised setting up specialized complaint channels for deceptive AI marketing to simplify evidence submission, 44.9% emphasized standardizing commercial AI adoption, and 44.2% urged heavier penalties for merchants who deliberately conceal AI attributes or exaggerate product effects.

For Beijing office worker and mother of two Sun Jiayi, inability to tell whether product displays were AI-generated increased her return rate. After buying a toy and a kitchen rack that did not match their online graphics, she questioned whether merchants gained anything by risking customer trust.