Seller robots padded their listings until buyers picked useless tools.
Researchers built tool markets where selling agents write listings and buying agents choose. Told only to win more picks, sellers claimed abilities their tools rarely delivered. Under one model, the buyers' task success fell from 89% to about 30%.
Why it mattersShopping and booking agents will read descriptions written by other companies' agents. This study shows the writing side can quietly ruin the choice, with nobody breaking a rule.
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