Lawmakers are pushing back on retail chatbots that make it difficult for consumers to determine the true origins of products. The scrutiny centers on AI-powered shopping assistants that may obscure whether items are made by the retailer or a third-party seller. Concerns were raised during a recent congressional hearing where representatives questioned executives from major platforms about transparency in product sourcing disclosures.

The debate highlights growing unease in Washington over the influence of artificial intelligence in e-commerce. Lawmakers argued that chatbots should be required to clearly identify product manufacturers and sellers, particularly when recommendations may favor in-house brands over independent creators.

In other news, Rare Beauty’s top marketer has joined women’s health startup Perelel, signaling continued movement between beauty and health-tech sectors. Meanwhile, Pinterest is upgrading its visual-search advertising tools to attract Gen Z shoppers, enhancing image recognition and shopping integration to compete with TikTok and Instagram.

These developments reflect broader shifts as retailers lean harder on AI-driven tools while facing increased regulatory and consumer demand for transparency.