AI-generated review summaries could upend online shopping episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 21, 2026 · 27 MIN

AI-generated review summaries could upend online shopping

from The Modern Retail Podcast · host Digiday

On this week’s Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporter Gabi Barkho delves into the growing phenomenon of AI-generated review summaries.It’s one of the many ways generative AI is already impacting the way people discover products and shop online. These summaries are not only changing the way chatbots talk about products, they’re also pushing brands and marketers to navigate customer reviews differently.In this episode, Barkho is joined by Dawn Hilarczyk, chief operating officer at Borghese, and Nick Lafferty, who leads growth marketing at Profound. Hilarczyk and Lafferty break down the following: How AI-generated customer reviews are condensed and spread by AI search engines like Gemini, ChatGPT and Rufus.  Why bot-written summaries decontextualize product descriptions and features.  What brands can do to better control the way their customer reviews show up in summaries.

On this week’s Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporter Gabi Barkho delves into the growing phenomenon of AI-generated review summaries.It’s one of the many ways generative AI is already impacting the way people discover products and shop online. These summaries are not only changing the way chatbots talk about products, they’re also pushing brands and marketers to navigate customer reviews differently.In this episode, Barkho is joined by Dawn Hilarczyk, chief operating officer at Borghese, and Nick Lafferty, who leads growth marketing at Profound. Hilarczyk and Lafferty break down the following: How AI-generated customer reviews are condensed and spread by AI search engines like Gemini, ChatGPT and Rufus.  Why bot-written summaries decontextualize product descriptions and features.  What brands can do to better control the way their customer reviews show up in summaries.

NOW PLAYING

AI-generated review summaries could upend online shopping

0:00 27:28

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Modern Retail Podcast?

This episode is 27 minutes long.

When was this The Modern Retail Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on March 21, 2026.

What is this episode about?

On this week’s Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporter Gabi Barkho delves into the growing phenomenon of AI-generated review summaries.It’s one of the many ways generative AI is already impacting the way people discover products and shop online....

Can I download this The Modern Retail Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!