# Podqi study finds AI chatbots recommend risky retail websites

> Original title: AI chatbots are recommending fake retail websites, study finds

- Source: The Verge · AI
- Published: 2026-11-12T17:00:00.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/nkoxmo4dgzm7m3qoh0qwkx8my
- Original: https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1032020/gemini-chatgpt-perplexity-shopping-test-risky-fake-websites-citations

## Summary

Podqi found that ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity cited or showed risky retail sites, including fake and reregistered domains, across 6,795 answers. Gemini showed them in 4 percent of answers, ChatGPT in 8 percent, and Perplexity in 15 percent, with smaller brands at higher risk.