Danger: AI writes some eBay listings

Artificial Intelligence thinks it knows what you want. 

 It will come as no surprise to you that Artificial Intelligence is being used to write some eBay listings. 

You probably even chuckle when you detect some of the laughable mistakes made by a non-human authors with no real familiarity with the items. 

A recent eBay ad offered an ancient Lucas regulator stripped off a junkyard motorcycle (maybe even a Royal Enfield). 

The ad copy almost glowed with pre-programmed confidence regarding this weathered part: 

"This Lucas Voltage Regulator RB108 6V is a reliable and high-quality part for your Royal Enfield Horex. It is designed to ensure your motorcycle's electrical system is running smoothly and efficiently. The silver color and vintage part aspect make it a great addition to your collection. The brand of this part is Lucas, a trusted name in the motorcycle industry. It is compatible with a variety of motorcycle and scooter parts and accessories, making it a versatile item for any rider. Buy with confidence knowing this voltage regulator will keep your bike running smoothly."

Imagine: Lucas, "a trusted name in the motorcycle industry." Would you buy this "with confidence"? 

You might buy it, but only on the chance it could work.

This highly rated eBay seller apparently uses AI to get his large collection of vintage parts posted. Of a 1956 Indian Tomahawk horn button, his ad says this:

"Elevate your motorcycle experience with this classic 1956 Indian Tomahawk Royal Enfield Horn Button. Crafted from a combination of durable steel and long-lasting plastic, this horn button is a perfect fit for your vintage motorcycle. The silver color adds a touch of elegance to your bike, while its placement on the front, left, and right side of your vehicle makes it easily accessible. This vintage part is a must-have for Royal Enfield enthusiasts who appreciate the historical significance of their motorcycles. With its unique design and reliable functionality, this horn button is an excellent addition to your collection. Don't miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of motorcycle history."

Long lasting plastic? A touch of elegance? Don't be silly.

AI thinks this worn part can add elegance to your Royal Enfield.

Another, obviously AI eBay ad, offers a vintage Royal Enfield metal toolbox. The robot alleges that the tool box can be fit on either side of the motorcycle (impossible: they are side specific), or -- even -- on the front!

Sure, it's funny. There's no reason not to buy, if you know what you're going to get, like the price, and like what you see in the photos (presuming they are real).

It reminds me of the badly translated instruction sheets, once very common, that came with items ordered from overseas. These were inscrutable and somewhat concerning if they, say, involved wiring electrical parts.

We can probably thank Google Translate for mostly doing away with goofy translations. It probably does at least as well as a human translator.

AI is different, because it is going to take the human entirely out of the equation.

AI has no hesitancy to inform you that Lucas made trusted electronics. It easily claims that your pride-and-joy motorcycle will be enhanced by the magnificent addition of junk-yard part.

In other words, it's unscrupulous. Soon it will be both unscrupulous and undetectable.

Probably many of the eBay ads I take for granted as the work of humans are in fact already the product of better scripted AI.

I have no way of knowing.

Is it such a bad thing? Humans make plenty of idiotic mistakes, too, and some of these can be seriously misleading, and even dangerous.

Well, consider this: In December, writer James Somers visited a Google lab where he played a game of ping-pong against a robot informed by AI. As he played, he could feel the robot adapting, to exploit his weaknesses.

It was spooky. But he found flaws in the robot's play, too. It didn't like topspin on the ball.

Later, Somers noted another ping-pong table in the lab -- except with a robot on each side, gradually erasing their flaws.

"I could see where this was going," he wrote.

The lab's goal, he learned, was to give the robots "superhuman performance."

We have been warned.