E-commerce giant eBay now lets merchants easily swap image backgrounds with AI-generated backdrops. 

The tool provides a new background improvement tool that automates image background removal and smoothly replaces it with the seller's choice. Sellers may now modify their settings by arranging items on attractive tabletops or using vivid backdrops that match their brand.

eBay's new AI tool is similar to Amazon and Google's foray into AI technology empowering merchants with superior picture-enhancing features, per TechCrunch. This innovative solution is already available to iOS users in the US, UK, and Germany, with Android users to follow in the coming months.

Last year, Amazon and Google launched AI-powered marketing tools like eBay's backdrop improvement tool. These solutions use generative AI to improve product graphics and attract buyers.

This latest eBay seller tool will transform online product display. This AI function will improve listing photographs for vendors without professional equipment or skills. This new AI function uses the open-source model Stable Diffusion to change backdrops more intelligently than eBay's existing computer vision technologies.

After introducing an AI capable of generating product listing titles and descriptions last year, eBay's latest announcement underscores its dedication to AI technology advancement. AI-driven solutions are key to eBay's strategy for growth and seller empowerment in the competitive e-commerce industry, as they improve seller tools and the user experience.

eBay No Longer Accepting American Express

In a separate update, eBay stopped taking American Express cards due to "unacceptably high fees" and offered users alternative payment choices.

The online retail giant's decision hurts American Express, whose customers typically generate profits for businesses by spending liberally on their cards each month. Merchants like Costco cut ties with American Express almost a decade ago to protest its business methods.

eBay noted that it will stop accepting American Express cards globally "effective Aug. 17." The firm explained "following thorough deliberation" that the decision was made due to "exorbitant fees" for credit card transactions, ABC News reported.

eBay buyers now use other payment methods, making American Express obsolete. eBay currently offers purchase-now and pay-later options through Apple Pay, PayPal, Klarna, and Affirm.

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Online retailers are increasingly fighting with payment processors over processing costs. Two years ago, Amazon threatened to stop taking Visa in the UK due to high costs. Visa and Amazon resolved their dispute without service interruptions.

American Express, like other payment processors, charges businesses a portion of network transactions. the company claims eBay's card acceptance charges are equivalent to those on other networks.

AI Detects Fake Monet and Renoir Paintings on eBay

Meanwhile, authorities caution buyers of art after AI tech detected fake art items being sold on eBay. According to art authentication specialist Dr. Carina Popovici, up to 40 bogus paintings, including pieces credited to "Monet" and "Renoir," have appeared on eBay.

After applying cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to internet photos, Dr. Popovici was surprised to find several artworks with a "high probability" of being "not authentic," as reported by The Guardian.

Because Dr. Popovici discovered 40 counterfeit paintings, a larger pool of misrepresented artworks may exist. Popovici said the AI's algorithm "unequivocally identified all of them as fakes." He added that their analysis "revealed widespread counterfeits"  on the platform. The expert warned that the result is just the start of a  "bigger problem." 

In response to the issue, eBay said that it prohibits the listing of counterfeit items or "unauthorized copies. The report also noted the vendor based in Florida withdrew the purported Renoir listing and said that they do not sell counterfeit paintings.

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