Companies Are Using Reddit to Manipulate ChatGPT and Google AI Search

7 hours ago

Biohacking subreddit moderators ban new posts about peptides and HRT due to AI-engine optimization (AEO) spam from companies.
Companies use bots, sock puppet accounts, and paid promotions to manipulate Reddit content, aiming to influence AI chatbot answers.
AEO is an evolution of SEO, targeting AI tools like ChatGPT and Google AI search that frequently cite Reddit sources.
Peptides and HRT industries have grown rapidly with limited regulation, leading to safety concerns and risky sourcing practices.
Moderators express concern over artificial AI-driven content eroding human interaction and posing physical harm risks to users.
Sophisticated manipulation tactics include reverse-engineering LLM prompt patterns and embedding brand mentions in high-engagement threads.
Reddit accounts used for promotion are "warmed up" with non-promotional histories, making detection difficult for moderators.
Reddit provides automated moderation tools, but moderators rely on pattern recognition and risk over-moderation of genuine users.

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