1/26/2025

Shopify AI Tools: Why Rephrased Descriptions Are Unrelated to Products

In the ever-evolving world of eCommerce, one of the major game-changers has undoubtedly been the rise of AI-driven tools. But with great power comes great responsibility. As Shopify merchants increasingly utilize AI tools to streamline operations, particularly for product descriptions, there's a budding concern surfacing among users: Are AI-generated descriptions truly accurate and helpful? In many cases, the answer is a resounding NO. Let’s THEORIZE why this occurs, the implications of it, and what actions can be taken.

The Surge of AI Tools in eCommerce

As of 2024, AI tools in eCommerce have provided merchants with tremendous support in enhancing productivity and efficiency. According to a Shopify blog post, around 50% of merchants plan to use AI tools for content generation. In the pursuit of cost-effective solutions, many turn to AI for creating product descriptions that are supposed to attract consumers and improve SEO ranking. However, here lies the conundrum: the AI-generated descriptions often miss the mark.

The Problem With AI Product Descriptions

Utilizing AI tools like Shopify Magic can result in faster, more efficient writing. But the rephrased AI descriptions frequently lack relevance to the actual product. They tend to sound generic or, worse, completely unrelated. Imagine seeing a product listed with a description that sounds like it was copy-pasted from a catalog without any context. An overwhelming number of customers on platforms like Reddit and eBay have voiced their frustration over AI-generated descriptions, labeling them as “data salad” or “wordy fluff.”

Why Are the Descriptions Irrelevant?

1. Lack of Contextual Understanding

AI algorithms function based on data they are fed. They analyze existing descriptions and data but may not fully grasp the product's nuances or the brand's contextual story. This machine learning relies heavily on statistical correlations drawn from various datasets. Suppose the AI encounters numerous descriptions on game consoles. It might create a uniform description, disregarding specific features that differentiate a PS5 from an Xbox. This lack of context leads to poorly crafted descriptions that don’t reflect what makes each product unique.

2. Over-Reliance on Templates

Another contributing factor is the over-reliance on templates that are too rigid. While structured descriptions can help streamline writing, they often ignore the specific details that may appeal to your target audience. For example, a high-end noise-canceling headphone might be described monotonously with phrases like “top of the line.” How about emphasizing the experience it offers rather than succumbing to buzzwords that might as well be used for other headphones?

3. Insufficient Data Training

AI tools vary in sophistication, but many products still draw from limited datasets. When an AI model lacks exposure to an extensive array of marketing language and specific products, it can generate descriptions that are far too generalized. Many AI tools are trained on vast amounts of text from the internet, but much of this content is not optimized for eCommerce, leading to inaccurate or misleading product descriptions.

The Impact of Inaccurate Descriptions

The pitfalls of AI-generated product descriptions can have REPERCUSSIONS both for merchants and customers.

Loss of Customer Trust: If a customer receives an item that does not match the description, it results in disappointment, returns, and negative reviews. In our digital age, trust is crucial for eCommerce success.
Poor SEO Performance: If the product descriptions are generic, they may not rank well in search engines. Crafting unique revolves around specific keywords that resonate with the target audience. AI is not always adept at identifying these nuances.
Missed Sales Opportunities: A lack of engaging or relevant content can lead to decreased conversions and, ultimately, lost revenue, which is the last thing running an online business needs.

What Can Be Done?

Fortunately, there’s light at the end of the tunnel! Here are some steps to improve the coherence and relevance of product descriptions generated by AI tools:

1. Human Oversight

Integrating human oversight in the AI writing process is essential. After generating a description, a human editor should review and tweak the copy to ensure accuracy and emotional appeal. This human touch offers a layer of personalization that AI simply cannot replicate. If instead, you’d prefer to cut directly to the chase, use our recommended tool, Arsturn, which allows custom chatbots capable of generating engaging conversations, enhancing audience engagement, and retaining authentic brand voice effortlessly.

2. Training the AI with Quality Data

Training the AI on high-quality, product-specific data can significantly impact the relevance and precision of the descriptions. Share your product features, target audience, and unique selling points. This approach can substantially improve the output you receive from AI tools.

3. Enforce Unique Guidelines

Maintain specific guidelines for how product descriptions should resonate with your audience. Train your AI-generated tools to adhere to these rules and personalize content by integrating direct input from your team. For instance, create a unique profile for the voice of your brand to use consistently across all descriptions.

4. Utilize Comparative Analysis

Consider using a comparative approach where AI descriptions can be paired with existing product listings to tailor outputs based on what has historically performed well or poorly. Leverage the polished results from the human edits, making traits like enticement, utility, and fit your priority.

Conclusion

The landscape of Shopify AI tools is incredibly vast & filled with potential, but they must be approached with care & strategy to maximize their effectiveness. AI-generated product descriptions can provide substantial time savings, but they also require a balance of human intervention to ensure they connect with audiences meaningfully.

Final Thoughts

As we move into the future, utilizing solutions like Arsturn, which help create powerful AI chatbots, can facilitate better engagement strategies with your customers without compromising authenticity & relevance. Simply put, don’t rely solely on AI for product descriptions; instead, integrate generous human touch, ensure well-trained databases, and keep a keen eye on your marketing strategy. Let’s leverage technological advancements without losing the personal connection that drives sales!