Searching Facebook Marketplace in the AI era has revealed a strange new phenomenon: sellers are running product photos through chatbots or image generators to insert scantily clad women into listings.

This marketing ploy seemingly bets that thirst-trap imagery will boost clicks and improve the chances of selling whatever item is listed on the online marketplace.

"This dude on FB Marketplace has multiple listings for heavy Caterpillar industrial equipment superimposed with AI-generated female models. Must have industry-leading click-through rates," journalist Trung Phan wrote on X.

Sure enough, the thirst-trap imagery appears to be working...

Here's another example.

One Facebook Marketplace seller said the marketing ploy absolutely works.

This is a real-world example of how sellers are using AI to try to boost low click-through rates.