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eBay pilots agentic AI assistant

AI concept
eBay is helping OpenAI develop a new agentic AI tool.

eBay is testing a virtual assistant for consumers that is equipped with a leading-edge artificial intelligence capability.

The e-commerce giant is participating in the research preview of Operator, a new agentic AI solution from OpenAI, developer of the ChatGPT generative AI model  which interacts with users in a conversational style that mimics human interaction and uses machine learning to continually refine and improve its responses.

Agentic AI goes a step beyond generative AI by analyzing massive amounts of data in near-real-time and then automatically taking action based on the results. Leveraging this capability, Operator can be asked to handle a variety of repetitive browser tasks such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and even creating meme.

In a post on his official LinkedIn account, Nitzan Mekel-Bobrov, chief AI officer at eBay, said that the e-tailer’s collaboration with Operator as a shopping tool will result in users being directed to eBay for “unique inventory finds.”

“We anticipate that through this collaboration, we will expand the reach of our sellers,” Mekel-Bobrov said in the post. “As we continue to evolve our internal AI agent capabilities and deepen our strategic partnerships, we’re learning how these technologies can best empower buyers to discover more of the things they love and enable sellers to grow their businesses successfully.”

Operator is powered by a new AI model called Computer-Using Agent (CUA). Combining ChatGPT’s vision capabilities with advanced reasoning through reinforcement learning, CUA is trained to interact with graphical user interfaces (GUIs)—the buttons, menus, and text fields that control activity on a digital screen.

To use Operator, consumers describe the task they would like performed, such as locating a desired product to purchase, and Operator automatically handles the rest. Operator is trained to proactively ask the user to take over for tasks that require login, payment details, or proving they are human.

Other retailers participating in the Operator research preview include Target, Etsy, DoorDash, Instacart and Goodwill.

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eBay aids sellers with AI

eBay has developed a number of AI-based seller tools, specifically based on generative AI machine learning models, in the past year. These include a selling tool called the "magical bulk listing tool" that lets sellers upload batches of product images for which eBay will generate draft listings with suggested categories, titles, and item specifics within seconds. 

[READ MORE: eBay’s latest AI seller tool enables instant multiple listings]

In June 2024, the retailer introduced an AI-based background enhancement tool allowing sellers to remove a background from an existing product listing photo, leaving just the actual item they are selling, and then place that item in a new AI-generated backdrop chosen from a variety of scenes and themes. 

In December 2023, eBay released a new feature based on generative AI technology that enables sellers to draft social media posts with the click a button. 

And in September 2023, the e-tailer released what it termed a "magical" seller listing solution that uses AI to analyze, research and extrapolate details about listings from a small amount of seller-provided data, including images.

From a photo, the AI technology can write titles, descriptions and add vital information, which could include product release date, detailed category and sub-category, and can combine with eBay’s other technology to suggest a listing price and shipping cost.

eBay says it is developing more AI-powered tools and features simplify how sellers list and manage their inventory. 

Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay enabled more than $73 billion of gross merchandise volume in 2023.

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