PHOTO: Maximum List real estate agent, Sienna Toso, is listed on the rental ad. Picture: Maximum List
A Victorian real estate agent has been criticized for a glaring mistake in one of their rental listings, where they seemingly copied and pasted an entire conversation with an AI chat bot.
The listing was for a $900 rental in Melbourne’s Balwyn North. Picture: Domain
The rental listing, for a property priced at $900 per week in Balwyn North, approximately 10km east of Melbourne’s CBD, attracted attention from potential renters due to its peculiar description.
Following a brief statement extolling the virtues of the “sun-drenched double-storey solid brick residence,” the description abruptly transitions into what appears to be a dialogue between Maximum List real estate agent Sienna Toso and ChatGPT.
The description appeared to include a copy and pasted conversation with ChatGPT. Picture: Domain
In this conversation, the “user” seeks assistance in “rewriting” a rental advertisement for a property located in Manor Lakes, which is over 50km away from the listed address.
The user provides a vague description of the Manor Lakes property to the bot, mentioning features like “four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two car spots, alfresco, etc.”
Subsequently, ChatGPT transforms this basic input into a comprehensive description of the Manor Lakes property, embellishing it as a “spacious and modern residence offering comfort, convenience, and contemporary living in one of Manor Lakes’ most sought-after neighborhoods.” The AI even adds details such as a “modern kitchen equipped with sleek appliances” and highlights the low-maintenance yard as “ideal for those with busy lifestyles.”
The listing included the description of another rental property located 50km away in Manor Lakes. Picture: Realestate.com.au
Furthermore, the chat bot prompts the agent to fill out additional information such as rent amount, availability date, and contact information.
Upon receiving a second prompt from the user to rewrite another paragraph describing the Manor Lakes property, it becomes apparent that the paragraph in question was directly lifted from the listing created when the property was previously for sale through a different real estate agency in 2023.
Finally, the chat bot is tasked with rewring an advertisement for the original Balwyn North property. However, the description provided appears to be taken from the listing when the property was sold back in September 2013.
The listing was updated on Wednesday morning after news.com.au reached out to Maximum List Real Estate for comment, though the agency has not yet responded.
It appears that Ms. Toso, the agent, incorporated at least part of the rewritten description provided by ChatGPT into the Balwyn North rental listing. A comparison with the Manor Lakes listing, also managed by Ms. Toso, reveals that the majority of the description generated by the AI has been utilized in the rental ad for that property as well.
Prior to its update, the listing was posted to X, where user @samantha__joy commented, “They’re now so lazy they’re resorting to ChatGPT.” Rental advocate Jordie Van den Berg shared the post, labeling the blunder as “f**king hilarious.”
Commenters expressed astonishment at the situation, with one remarking, “Not only is it a different property, it’s in a much less wealthy neighborhood about as far across the other side of town as Melbourne goes. Just unbelievable work,” while another quipped, “‘ … Alfresco etc.’ Amazing. They don’t even list the features for ChatGPT to describe. Just make it up AI. Go for glory. Wild.”
SOURCE: NEWS.COM.AU