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AMAZON CUSTOMER REVIEW CHANGES

Amazon is implementing changes to the customer review system in the US.

News of this change was recently announced in this c/net article.

The new customer review system uses a machine learning platform.

What does a machine learning customer review platform mean?

• The system will gauge which customer reviews are most helpful.
• The customer review system will be dynamic.
• The average star rating will be weighted by helpfulness.
• Verified reviews will have an edge toward helpfulness.
• Newer reviews will also count more toward helpfulness.
• Customer voting still impacts helpfulness.

So, exactly, how is this different?

• Average star rating may change, since it will be weighted by helpfulness. The most helpful reviews will carry more influence.
• Customer voting isn’t the only factor that affects helpfulness. Newer reviews and Verified reviews will carry more weight. There are probably other factors entailed in the “machine-learning.”