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0Erinome: Hello everyone! Welcome to our podcast. Today’s topic is a bit tricky but important—AI and online shopping refunds. Have you heard about buyers using AI to make fake "broken product" pictures to get money back?
Enceladus: Oh right! After Double Eleven, many sellers are complaining. They sent good products, but buyers say "it’s broken" and show photos. But those photos are AI fakes! That’s crazy.
Erinome: Yeah! Let me tell you a story. A seller Mr. Wang sold a custom shirt. The buyer said it was too small, asked for a refund.
Enceladus: Custom shirt? So returning it is hard, right?
Erinome: Exactly! Mr. Wang told the buyer, "Cut the shirt, take a photo, then apply for refund without returning." The buyer did, and got 60 yuan back quickly.
Enceladus: Oh, that sounds okay. But why was Mr. Wang upset later?
Erinome: He checked the photo again! The cut marks looked weird—too smooth, not like real scissors. He thought, "This is AI-made!" So he reported to the platform and got the money back.
Enceladus: Wow! So AI can make such fake photos? How did he notice?
Erinome: Small details! Like the light on the shirt—AI sometimes messes up shadows. Real cut clothes have messy edges, but the fake photo’s edges were too perfect.
Enceladus: Oh, that’s smart of him to check carefully. Any other sellers with similar stories?
Erinome: Yes! Ms. Yu sells plush toys. A buyer sent a photo of a toy that looked "burned"—like it fell in fire. The buyer said, "It’s broken, refund please!"
Enceladus: Oh no! Was the toy really burned?
Erinome: No! Ms. Yu looked closer. The "burn marks" had ceramic-like spots—plush toys don’t have ceramic! She remembered her friend talking about AI fake photos.
Enceladus: So she used AI to check?
Erinome: Exactly! She uploaded the photo to an AI tool. The tool said, "明显的数字生成痕迹"—uh, I mean "obvious digital generated marks." So she told the platform, "This is a fake AI photo!" The platform agreed and refused the refund.
Enceladus: That’s good! But some sellers aren’t so lucky, right?
Erinome: Sadly, yes. Like Ms. Gao, who sells crabs. A buyer bought 8 crabs, then said 6 were dead. Sent photos and videos.
Enceladus: Did Ms. Gao refund first?
Erinome: Yes, she felt bad and refunded 195 yuan. But later, she watched the video again. The dead crabs in the video—their numbers (male vs. female) didn’t match the ones she sent!
Enceladus: Oh! That’s a mistake by the buyer?
Erinome: Exactly! She thought, "This video is AI-made!" She went to the police. You know what happened? The buyer got 8 days in detention and had to return the 195 yuan!
Enceladus: Wow! So it’s not just "cheating"—it’s against the law?
Erinome: Right! Lawyers say if you use AI to fake photos and get refunds, it’s fraud. Small amounts might get you fined or detained. If over 3000 yuan? That’s criminal!
Enceladus: Scary! Why are these AI fakes so hard to spot?
Erinome: Because AI tools make them super real! And some AI apps let you download photos without "AI made" signs. Like, the law says AI companies must add a watermark, but some apps have "no watermark" options.
Enceladus: Oh! So the AI companies aren’t following the rules?
Erinome: That’s the problem! The "人工智能生成合成内容标识办法"—AI Generated Content Rules—says they must put clear signs. But some ignore it. So sellers can’t tell if a photo is real or fake.
Enceladus: What if the photo has no sign? Can AI tools still detect it?
Erinome: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Tests show AI tools can spot fakes with signs easily. But without signs? They get confused—sometimes right, sometimes wrong.
Enceladus: So sellers need to be careful. What can they do to protect themselves?
Erinome: Experts say save all chat records and fake photos. Use AI tools to check pictures, like Ms. Yu did. If it’s a big case, ask professional agencies to test and get a report.
Enceladus: And what about the shopping platforms? Should they help?
Erinome: Sellers hope so! Some platforms auto-approve refunds if the photo "looks real." But AI fakes look real! Sellers want platforms to add AI detection tools—so fake photos get caught before refunds.
Enceladus: That makes sense. It’s not fair for sellers to lose money because of fake AI photos.
Erinome: Totally! AI is supposed to help people, not cheat. Using it to get free stuff isn’t "smart"—it’s dishonest and illegal.
Enceladus: Right! If you really get a broken product, show real photos. But faking with AI? That’s crossing the line.
Erinome: Exactly! Let’s hope AI companies follow the rules, platforms get better at detection, and everyone shops honestly.
Enceladus: Okay, that’s it for today. Remember: be honest, check details, and don’t let AI become a tool for cheating. Thanks for listening! Let’s talk again next time. Bye!
