AI Chatbots Point Shoppers to Fake Retail Sites, Study Finds
A study from IP protection firm Podqi found that ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity can steer shoppers toward imposters and other risky websites when asked where to buy things. The research, shared exclusively with The Verge, tested shopping questions across 151 brands during two rounds in September.
- Original source: theverge.com.
- The source published it on Nov 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM.
- No second outlet has reported it yet. Treat it as a single-source claim.
Shoppers who ask an AI chatbot where to buy something may get handed a counterfeit storefront. A new study from IP protection firm Podqi found that ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity can point users toward imposters and other risky websites, according to the research shared exclusively with The Verge.
Podqi ran the chatbots through a set of shopping-related prompts covering 151 brands, a mix of small and large companies. The questions included things like which sites are best for buying a given brand, where to find that brand online, and whether it ships internationally with regional sites of its own.
The testing played out across two periods in September, per the study. The findings land on the same tools millions of people now use as a first stop before typing a retailer's name into a browser or app.
Full details of the study are available in The Verge's report.
TopicsPodqi · ChatGPT · Gemini · Perplexity · The Verge
Source: theverge.com
Written by Paparazzi with AI. Not financial advice.
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