Chrome uses AI to detect dubious e-commerce sites before your purchases
Online shopping has become a habit for millions of users, but it remains a sometimes risky experience. Among the steps that many overlook is checking whether a retail site is trustworthy before pulling out their credit card. Google Chrome aims to simplify this process with a new feature that could become essential.
An AI to Detect Dubious Sites Directly in Your Browser
Google recently announced a new feature in Chrome that is currently being rolled out in the United States. This functionality, powered by artificial intelligence, offers a summary of a retail site’s reputation as soon as you visit it, eliminating the need for manual searches or checking third-party websites.
Specifically, a new icon will appear in the address bar to the left of the URL. Clicking on this icon will provide an AI-generated summary of customer reviews and feedback regarding the online store you are visiting.
Where Does the AI Analyze Data From?
To assess the reliability of an e-commerce site, Chrome relies on an intelligent aggregation of various sources:
- Reviews from Google Shopping
- Third-party platforms like TrustPilot, ScamAdvisor, etc.
- Sentiment analysis and reliability checks across multiple sources to avoid biases from fake positive reviews or isolated criticisms
The result is presented as a simple summary: what customers are saying, along with links to review sources for further exploration if needed.
A Response to Online Scams and Wild Dropshipping
The timing of this new feature is noteworthy. Nowadays, creating a dubious online store costs less than €30, thanks to turnkey solutions like Shopify or WooCommerce. Consequently, thousands of dropshipping sites are emerging, often featuring inflated prices, interminable shipping times, or products that are never delivered.
With this tool, Chrome aims to enable consumers to:
- Instantly know if a site has a good reputation
- Identify potential scams or unreliable sites
- Save time and attain peace of mind before making any payments
A Feature That Is Still Improving, but Promising
Of course, the effectiveness of these summaries will depend on several factors: how the AI weighs each source, interprets the tone of reviews, and manages contradictions. Caution is warranted, especially if the summary is neutral or if no reviews are found—this can also serve as a warning signal.
Google assures that personal data is not used in this context and that only public and verifiable reviews are considered.
A U.S. Exclusivity (For Now)
Currently, this new feature is exclusive to Chrome users in the United States. No international rollout date has been confirmed, but the usefulness of the tool could hasten its adoption in other markets, particularly in Europe, where consumer protection legislation is especially stringent.
As e-commerce becomes increasingly saturated with fake stores, direct shipping sites, or businesses without customer service, this new Chrome feature arrives at a crucial moment. While it won’t completely replace your vigilance, it will provide a valuable, instant, and effortless indicator.
In an era where reliability is as critical as price, integrating this system into a mainstream browser like Chrome could revolutionize online shopping. This simple yet helpful innovation demonstrates a practical use of AI that benefits internet users.
