Discover Fakespot Chat: Mozilla's Innovative LLM for Smart Online Shopping with an AI Chatbot for Product Research

Earlier this year, Mozilla made headlines by acquiring Fakespot, a startup that utilizes AI and machine learning to detect fraudulent and misleading product reviews. Now, Mozilla is introducing its first large language model (LLM) with the launch of Fakespot Chat—an innovative AI chatbot designed to assist consumers during their online shopping experience. Fakespot Chat will answer product-related inquiries and even suggest useful questions to enhance your product research.

There’s an intriguing paradox in harnessing AI to tackle the issue of fake reviews, particularly since many deceptive reviews are also generated using advanced AI technologies like GPT. A report by CNBC in April revealed that numerous Amazon reviews appeared to be written by ChatGPT, as they began with "As an AI language model," a signature phrase of the technology. Similarly, in July, TripAdvisor informed The Guardian that it had removed over 20,000 reviews suspected of containing AI-generated text across more than 15,000 properties.

In response to these challenges, Fakespot has employed AI, including generative technologies, to foster a more trustworthy online shopping environment. Last year, it introduced a generative AI feature called Pros and Cons, which summarizes a product’s strengths and weaknesses, thereby reducing the need to wade through extensive reviews. The feature is powered by insights from billions of data points and operates using five distinct models, according to the company.

This week, Fakespot Chat entered the testing phase, allowing shoppers to interact with an AI chatbot about potential purchases—much like consulting a salesperson in a brick-and-mortar store. The technology efficiently analyzes product reviews, distinguishing between genuine and fake feedback to provide accurate answers. Notably, users can engage with the chatbot without needing to create an account or share personal information, as Mozilla emphasizes privacy.

Fakespot Chat can be accessed through the Fakespot Analyzer or directly on an Amazon product page when using the Fakespot browser extension. For the Analyzer, users simply paste the product URL to ask questions, while the browser add-on automatically initiates the analysis. Once completed, Fakespot Chat appears on the right-hand side of the results page alongside features like Pros and Cons and Fakespot's Review Grades, enabling users to question the AI agent as they deliberate on their buying decisions.

This new offering aligns with Mozilla's broader AI initiatives, including a $30 million investment in Mozilla.ai, a startup and community aimed at fostering an independent open-source AI ecosystem. Additionally, Mozilla hosted its inaugural Responsible AI Challenge, inviting developers to create trustworthy AI solutions for a chance to win prize money.

Mozilla acknowledges that its AI chatbot may not always deliver perfect responses, encouraging users to provide feedback to enhance the model's performance. "Ultimately, our goal with Fakespot Chat is to streamline your product research process and lead you to make better purchasing decisions," stated Saoud Khalifah, founder and director of Fakespot at Mozilla.

This acquisition positions Mozilla to enhance online shopping tools within the Firefox browser while reinforcing its commitment to combating fraudulent reviews.