People are going to buy a whole bunch of crap with ChatGPT's Shopping functionality
ChatGPT is launching shopping recommendations, and I'm left wondering what the future holds for BTTR.
This week OpenAI announced that it's moving into online shopping, helping users find and buy products that suit their needs by consolidating reviews from around the internet, analysing feedback, (inserting words based on probability rather than facts) and giving a link to buy recommended products direct from online retailers.
Well, shit. That sounds almost exactly what I was trying to do when I first launched BTTR (minus the AI gibberish, of course). If Google hadn't completely and utterly destroyed independent product review websites with its Helpful Content Update and subsequent March Core update last year, I would be extremely concerned.
Actually, I'm still concerned. Even though I spend a bit less time trying to monetise my work through affiliate partnerships (instead relying on the kindness of readers - donate here!), OpenAI targeting this space is a threat to smaller review sites like this one.
But it's a much bigger threat to Google, and while I'm mostly sad about the way the Internet is moving away from personal connections and experience, I'm still kind of interested to see how this one plays out.
