Target and Walmart want you to use AI shopping agents, but they're not responsible for AI errors and data leaks

[highplainsdem]

From Futurism:

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/target-ai-agent-tos

That virtual buddy, which runs on Google’s Gemini, is supposed to help online shoppers finish Target runs on their users’ behalf. Under the new terms, if a customer uses the Gemini agent to do their shopping for them, any transaction performed by the AI would be “considered transactions authorized by you.” Translation: any mistake by the AI agent — whether it buys the wrong item entirely, or a super expensive version of the right one without your consent — will come out of your pocket.

“You are responsible for reviewing activity performed by your Agentic Commerce Agent and for promptly notifying the Agentic Commerce Agent and Target of any activity you believe is unauthorized or outside the scope of permissions you approved,” the new terms state.

-snip-

The company joins other retail giants like Walmart in rolling out AI shopping agents that it openly distrusts. Walmart, which recently outraged consumers with AI-powered price gouging, also updated its terms of use to cover for mistakes made by its AI shopping assistant, Sparky.

“Due to the nature of Generative AI, the information, responses and recommendations generated for you and other users through Generative AI Features… may not be accurate, complete or up-to-date and may be misleading or contain errors and omissions, or the Generative AI Features may misunderstand the Content that you input… and may be responding to a different question than asked,” the company’s new policy states. “None of these sources have been verified by Walmart.”

Futurism links to Walmart's new Terms Of Use

https://www.walmart.com/help/article/walmart-com-terms-of-use/3b75080af40340d6bbd596f116fae5a0

which include these paragraphs:

Due to the nature of Generative AI, the information, responses and recommendations generated for you and other users through Generative AI Features (collectively, the “Output”) may not be accurate, complete or up-to-date and may be misleading or contain errors and omissions, or the Generative AI Features may misunderstand the Content that you input (the “Input”) and may be responding to a different question than asked. You should review and verify the Output before making any purchases, engaging in other transactions from the Walmart Sites, or taking any other action based on any such Output.

Pricing information generated by Generative AI Features may be inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date. Pricing information provided by Generative AI Features does not constitute an offer to sell the item at the stated price or acceptance of an offer to purchase the item at the stated price. Refer to Walmart’s Terms of Use at Section 8.B. Pricing Information; Availability for further information on item pricing.

-snip-

The Output provided by the Generative AI Features are intended for general informational purposes only. You should not use any Output provided by the Generative AI Features as the basis for making any legal, safety, health, regulatory, or similarly important decision. Users of the Generative AI Features are solely responsible for independently verifying and evaluating the Output, and for any decisions they make based on the Output. Further, you understand that due to the nature of machine learning and Generative AI, the Output from the Generative AI Features may not be unique across users, and the Generative AI Features may generate or return the same or similar Output to Walmart or a third party, and other users may also ask similar questions and receive the same or similar responses. Outputs that are requested by and generated for other users are not considered your Content. However, you are responsible for any Input you submit to the Generative AI Features.

Do not share any sensitive or personal data, or any proprietary or confidential information with the Generative AI Features. Additionally, you understand and agree that Input to the Generative AI Features may not be kept confidential, and any of your Content (including but not limited to the Inputs), as well as your purchasing history from the Walmart Sites, your use of promotions as well as personal information, may be used to further enhance and improve the Generative AI Features, the underlying model and the Walmart Sites as well as to generate Output. Inputs will be collected, used and retained by Walmart in order to answer questions and inquiries from you as well as other users, to help improve how the Generative AI Features operate, and for the other purposes described in Walmart’s Privacy Policy. Though you have a right to use all Outputs generated by the Generative AI Features, the Outputs are owned by Walmart.

[Faux pas]

1. Shop at your own risk?!?!

I'm glad I don't shop at either Greed is NOT GOOD FFS.

[GenThePerservering]

2. "Pay attention to what you're doing"

Is what it basically boils down to.

[Ms. Toad]

3. Agreed.

Kind of like giving your child access to your credit card. If you allow them to spend on your behalf, you're stuck with the bill. I'm well aware of this because my daughter shares multiple accounts where my credit card is stored. I have alerts on my phone whenever there is a charge - she has only once used it without my express advance consent (and I let her know immediately). Because it was in the nature of expenses I had approved a week earlier (food), I did not take away access. BUT she knows I'm watching and that if she ever abuses it, it will be gone.

I wouldn't use AI for my shopping - BUT - if I did, I would treat it like a child I gave access to my credit card. You abuse the privilege, you lose it. I would not expect the store (and by extension, everyone who shops there) to eat the loss if I am stupid enough to give access to an agent (human or machine) I am not monitoring.

[House of Roberts]

4. I was in Target yesterday.

I walked to the men's department, picked out a pack of crew socks, walked to the cashier, paid for them, and sat in the Starbucks until my driver finished her shopping.
What the fuck do I need AI for?