Real estate agent branded ‘lazy’ after awkward ChatGPT blunder on rental ad

A real estate agent has been slammed for an embarrassing AI-related blunder in a listing for a $900-a-week rental in Victoria.

A Victorian real estate agent has been called out over an “unbelievable” blunder in one of their rental listings, in which they appeared to copy and paste an entire conversation with an AI chat bot.

The listing for a $900-a-week home in Balwyn North, about 10km east of Melbourne’s CBD, caught the attention of renters due to the bizarre description.

After one sentence boasting about the “sun-drenched double-storey solid brick residence”, the description is interrupted by what appears to be a conversation between Maximum List real estate agent, Sienna Toso, and ChatGPT.

The listing was for a $900 rental in Melbourne’s Balwyn North. Picture: Domain

The description appeared to include a copy and pasted conversation with ChatGPT. Picture: Domain

It shows the “user” asking for help “rewriting” a rental advertisement for a completely different home in Manor Lakes, which is over 50km from the address listed on the ad.

The user gives a vague description of the home to the bot, noting it has “four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two car spots, alfresco, etc”.

The listing then shows ChatGPT turning this minimal prompt into a full-fledged description of the home, branding it a “spacious and modern residence offers comfort, convenience, and contemporary living in one of Manor Lakes’ most sought-after neighbourhoods”.

It then lists the property features, adding more details to the prompts given and also adding that the home has a “modern kitchen equipped with sleek appliances”, along with a low-maintenance yard that is apparently “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

The AI chat bot then includes a section where it prompts the agent to fill out the additional information needed.

“Rent: $XXXX per month. Available: (Insert Availability Date). For more information or to schedule a private viewing, please contact (Your Contact Information). Feel free to customise the rent amount and availability date according to your specific requirements.”

The user appears to have then provided a second prompt, once again asking the bot to rewrite a paragraph describing the home, which the AI provides.

However, it appears the paragraph the user asks the bot to “rewrite” has been taken directly from the listing created when the property was for sale, with the home selling in October 23 through a different real estate agency.

This is the description for the Manor Lakes property that was included on the listing when the house was sold in 2023. Picture: realestate.com.au

This is what the ‘user’ asked ChatGPT to ‘rewrite’. Picture: Domain

Finally, the chat bot is asked to rewrite an advertisement for the original Balwyn North address, with the description provided also appearing to be taken from the listing of when the property was sold, back in September 2013.

The description of the listing was updated on Wednesday morning, shortly after news.com.au reached out to Maximum List Real Estate for comment.

The agency is yet to respond to the request.

It seems the agent, Ms Toso, used at least part of the rewritten description provided by ChatGPT for the Balwyn North rental.

A look at the listing for the Manor Lakes home, also managed by Ms Toso, shows the majority of the description created by the AI has also been used in the rental ad.

This is the description for the Balwyn North property that was included on the listing when the house was sold in 2013. Picture: realestate.com.au

This is what ChatGPT was asked to rewrite. Picture: Domain

Prior to being updated, the listing was posted to X, with user @samantha__joy writing: “They’re now so lazy they’re resorting to ChatGPT.”

The post was reshared by popular rental advocate, Jordie Van den Berg, who branded the blunder, “f**king hilarious”.

Commenters were quick to share their thoughts, with one branding the situation “honestly mind blowing”.

“Not only is it a different property, it’s in a much less wealthy neighbourhood about as far across the other side of town as Melbourne goes. Just unbelievable work,” another said.

One added: “‘ … Alfresco etc.’ Amazing. They don’t even list the features for ChatGPT to describe. Just make it up AI. Go for glory. Wild.”