SYDNEY, June 25 — A trend of using AI to create computer-generated images of attractive women to help sell vehicles has sparked criticism from buyers and raised concerns from advertising watchdogs. Private sellers are altering their photos, not to remove scratches or smooth out dents, but to create attention-grabbing visuals that stand out. This fad has been discussed on the CarsAustralia subreddit, where one user shared suspected examples, calling the practice “misogynistic”.
Another user replied, “I wonder if the guys buying these items are getting super pissed when it’s not the girl doing the deal.” Others simply branded the trend as “cringe”. There are numerous examples of AI-generated women appearing in vehicle listings on Facebook Marketplace.
Some are more obvious than others, with people using humorous and attention-grabbing visuals to stand out. According to a user on X, “There’s a new trend on Facebook marketplace where people are using AI to grab attention for their listings. Never cared about a Kawasaki KLR until now,” they said, sharing an image of a grizzly bear sitting on the bike.
The advertising industry is taking notice of this trend, with broad community concerns about transparency and realism in AI-generated content. Greg Wallace, Executive Director of Ad Standards, said existing advertising standards still apply, even if content is produced using AI.
“Whether content is produced using AI or other methods, we assess it against the advertising codes, which cover matters such as dishonesty,” he said. A sharp rise in the use of AI-manipulated photos has prompted criticism from buyers, who feel that this practice is misleading. As one user put it, “It at least tells a potential buyer that they’re not an honest seller.” This trend is likely to continue, with some sellers using AI-generated images to make their listings more appealing.
The use of AI in marketing is becoming increasingly prevalent, and this trend is just one example of how it is being used to grab attention. As the use of AI-generated content continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how advertising watchdogs respond. For now, buyers are advised to be cautious when encountering AI-generated images in online listings, and to be aware of the potential for misleading content.
As the situation continues to unfold, it will be important to monitor how advertising standards are applied to AI-generated content. With the growing use of AI in marketing, it is likely that we will see more examples of this trend in the future.
For now, it remains to be seen how this will play out, and what the implications will be for buyers and sellers alike.
