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International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management

A Peer-Reviewed, Open-Access International Journal Supporting Multidisciplinary Research, Digital Publishing Standards, DOI Registration, and Academic Indexing.
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ISSN: 3108-1754 (Online)
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License: CC BY 4.0
Peer Review: Double Blind
Volume 02, Issue 6

Published on: June 2026

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF TRUST IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AI-GENERATED REVIEWS, INFLUENCER TRANSPARENCY AND PURCHASE INTENTIONS

Srinivas S

Dr. Lakshminarayana K

Department of MBA & Research Centre, SJC Institute of Technology, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.291

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Abstract

The rapid proliferation of AI-generated content in digital commerce has reshaped the dynamics of consumer trust in ways that are not yet fully understood. This study inspects how exposure to AI-generated fake reviews and bot engagement, influencer transparency, and perceived authenticity jointly shape consumer trust, brand credibility, and purchase intentions. Drawing on a quantitative survey of 402 respondents across diverse age groups and product categories, the study employs Pearson's correlation analysis, mediation analysis, moderation analysis (linear regression), exploratory factor analysis, and chi-square tests. Findings reveal a significant "transparency paradox" wherein explicit influencer disclosure weakly but significantly reduces trust, while exposure to AI-generated fake engagement exercises a moderate negative influence on purchase intentions. Perceived authenticity and consumer skepticism emerge as the strongest mediating construct, explaining a extensive portion of the trust–intention relationship. The study contributes to source credibility theory, dual-process cognition, and heuristic persuasion frameworks by demonstrating that consumers simultaneously recognize inauthenticity and respond to volume-based social proof cues. Practical inferences are accessible for brands, content platforms, and regulatory bodies seeking to design ethical and effective digital marketing ecosystems.

Keywords: AI-generated fake reviews, influencer transparency, consumer trust, perceived authenticity, purchase intention, brand credibility, social proof

How to Cite this Paper

S, S. (2026). The Mediating Role of Trust in the Relationship Between AI-Generated Reviews, Influencer Transparency and Purchase Intentions. International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, <i>02</i>(6). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.291

S, Srinivas. "The Mediating Role of Trust in the Relationship Between AI-Generated Reviews, Influencer Transparency and Purchase Intentions." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 02, no. 6, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.291.

S, Srinivas. "The Mediating Role of Trust in the Relationship Between AI-Generated Reviews, Influencer Transparency and Purchase Intentions." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management 02, no. 6 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.291.

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  • •Published on: Jun 23 2026
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