This methodology note outlines how AI tools were used to support the creation of my infographic article on cross-border e-commerce in China. It details the role of AI in structuring insights, sourcing reliable data, and guiding content organization while addressing both its benefits and limitations.
Introduction to the article
This article explores how brands can export to China using cross-border e-commerce channels. It presents key statistics, consumer insights, and major e-commerce festivals through a visually engaging infographic. The content is designed to help international businesses better navigate the Chinese digital commerce landscape.
Tools
- Name: Perplexity AI
- Version: Paid
- Link: https://www.perplexity.ai
- Name: Piktochart AI
- Version: Free (AI feature trialed)
- Link: https://piktochart.com
- Purpose: Tried for generating the infographic template but not used due to poor quality output.
Exploration, Idea Development, and Creativity
I used Perplexity AI in the early stages to ask open-ended questions like “What are the key e-commerce festivals in China?” and “Give me three interesting statistics on e-commerce in China”. It supported individual brainstorming by identifying themes across the e-book I used as my main source of info. I filtered ideas based on factual consistency and relevance, discarding hallucinated claims detected by comparing them with their own reading. External inspiration came from reading an industry e-book and referencing articles and videos about the subject.
Planning and Organization
I used AI to build a clear structure by helping group insights into categories such as advantages and disadvantages, platform options for selling, tips and festivals. Instead of a single prompt, several were used in sequence — starting from general topics (e.g., “Cross-border e-commerce in China”) to specific ones (e.g., “What is the significance of 6.18 or 11.11 in Chinese e-commerce?”). This iterative prompting helped refine the article and infographic’s layout.
Writing and Articulation
AI assisted in articulating ideas into clear, concise sentences suitable for infographic format — balancing factual content with visual simplicity. The goal was clarity and value for international brands. I adapted the tone for a professional yet accessible audience. I reviewed and rewrote initial outputs from Perplexity AI to ensure accuracy and alignment with the intended impact.
Ethics, Sources, and Hallucinations
Piktochart AI’s output lacked the visual quality and structure needed for the project, so I decided to create the entire infographic from scratch using Canva for more creative control and customization.
I also critically reviewed all AI-generated insights and cross-checked with manually read content, especially to correct hallucinations from the e-book summary. I acknowledge my use of Perplexity AI openly although I used none of the AI outputs without verification. This process reflects both the advantages of faster research and the limitations in reliability that require human oversight.
Examples of Prompts and Interactions
- Prompt: “Give me three interesting statistics on e-commerce in China” → Helped identify key data points to include in the infographic.
- Prompt: “Give me information about the following Chinese e-shopping festivals, the promotions and the story behind : (list of festivals)”
- Prompt: “Give me the same reply, but with easier to read language and simpler words”
- Prompt: “Give me a list of tips & insights from the book to give to people who want to sell to china, such as a tip on the festivals, or balancing traditional e-commerce and social e-commerce”
These well-structured prompts enabled the creation of a content-rich infographic while also speeding up the research process.
Link to the article : Exporting to China through cross-border E-commerce : Infographic
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