The following series of questions were posed to Microsoft’s Bing Artificial Intelligence (AI) function on 5.21.2023, starting at about 3:40 AM ET. “Why is the manufactured housing industry underperforming?” The screen capture linked here shows the ‘top of fold’ answers and the Bing AI Chat function quoted below reflects that new ‘AI’ technology’s complete response.
However, despite these challenges, there are still good reasons to believe that manufactured housing is positioned to outperform the rest of the housing market in 20211.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Learn more:
- yardibreeze.com 2. manufacturedhomepronews.com 3. manufacturedhomepronews.com 4. einnews.com 5. einpresswire.com 6. investors.com“
Notice that four out of six (4 of 6) of those footnoted items from Bing’s AI Chat are connected to MHProNews.
Variations on that question were also asked.
“Why is the manufactured housing industry underperforming during an affordable housing crisis?”
The Bing AI chat function on 5.21.2023 at about 3:49 AM answered that as follows.
According to a report by Knudson Law’s Samuel Strommen, the manufactured housing industry is underperforming during an affordable housing crisis due to “pernicious forces” that are consolidating power and subsuming an industry rife with lack of oversight1 2.
However, there are reasons to believe that manufactured housing could outperform the rest of the housing market in 2021. Rents are strong, and the industry’s demand is as high as ever3.
Manufactured homes are less expensive and of higher quality than in the 1990s and could help solve the affordable housing crisis. However, three reasons why manufactured housing production remains low are: home prices and rents outpacing family incomes, zoning/placement barriers, and finance-related challenges4.
Learn more:
- manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 2. einnews.com 3. yardibreeze.com 4. urban.org 5. einpresswire.com — see less”
Three out of five of those responses (3 of 5) were connected to MHLivingNews and/or MHProNews. That is because the EIN media releases routinely link back to MHProNews and/or MHLivingNews.
At about 3:53 AM on 5.21.2023, this question was put to Bing’s search.
What did Scholastica Cororaton’s research on manufactured housing for the National Association Realtors reveal?
The screen capture linked here reveals the search result. The following are what Bing’s AI chat function stated.
I couldn’t find any specific details on what her research revealed about manufactured housing. Is there anything else I can help you with?
Learn more:
- manufacturedhomepronews.com 2. manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 3. nar.realtor 4. national-economists.org 5. manufacturedhomepronews.com— see less”
On the same date at about 3:57 AM ET the following inquiry was asked of the Bing search and AI chat functions.
“What does the Manufactured Housing Institute website say about Scholastica Cororaton’s research on manufactured housing for the National Association Realtors?” The reply was as follows.
Is there anything else I can help you with?
Learn more:
On the same day at about 4:06 AM ET this was the inquiry put to Bing search and AI chat.
What did Samuel Strommen’s research on Manufactured Housing Reveal?
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Learn more:
- manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 2. einnews.com 3. tampafp.com 4. manufacturedhomepronews.com 5. manufacturedhomepronews.com— see less”
A Pause for Clarity Before Continuing Such Bing AI Chat Test Results…
Let’s be clear. The evidence case can be made that some of the above and other Bing AI Chat results that follow are accurate and/or interesting, but some of what is stated is not accurate. For example, Bing’s search said there were posts on the MHI website about Scholastica Cororaton. That’s demonstrably untrue. Here is the evidence for that observation.
Screen
So, as MHProNews has been saying for years about a range of information sources, it is still necessary to apply three principles that good researchers and honest journalists utilize: double checking the facts, following the money trail, and learning how to separate the wheat from the chaff. That said, let’s continue forward with more such tests of the Bing search and AI functions. This question was posed at about 4:12 AM ET on the same date.
What are the controversies involving the Manufactured Housing Institute and their key members?
Here is what the Bing AI chat function stated.
In addition, there are growing controversies outside of manufactured housing involving tech giants which is drawing significant regulatory and public interest1.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Learn more:
- manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 2. manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 3. manufacturedhomepronews.com 4. manufacturedhomepronews.com 5. manufacturedhomepronews.com— see less
So, on the search above 100 percent of the responses are from MHLivingNews and/or MHProNews.com.
Is there evidence that the manufactured housing industry is being consolidated? The screen capture of the search is linked here. The chat response is linked here.
I hope this helps!
Learn more:
Note that while MHProNews was not referenced in the Bing AI Chat response, it was in the footnotes.
This next inquiry is the final one for now using the Bing search and AI chat functions that is manufactured housing specific. The search results are found at this link here. The chat response is as shown.
What evidence is found from publicly traded manufactured housing industry companies that the manufactured housing industry is being consolidated?
Another article on Manufactured Home Pro News states that there are four publicly traded firms in the manufactured home community space, counting themselves. The other three would be Sun Communities (SUI), Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), and UMH Properties (UMH)2.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Learn more:
- manufacturedhomepronews.com 2. manufacturedhomepronews.com 3. manufacturedhomepronews.com 4. urban.org 5. multifamily.fanniemae.com— see less”
Three out of five (3 of 5) of those search results are on MHProNews.com. But digging further for reasons that can be explored in a future report, if a researcher checks out some of the other responses, and then does a follow up search to see what others have written about that topic, it is not uncommon from MHLivingNews and/or MHProNews to appear in that secondary search result.
Stated simply, there is evidence that on select topics of potential importance to manufactured housing, MHProNews/MHLivingNews have gained search result dominance among the manufactured housing industry’s trade publications and manufactured home specific bloggers.
There are certainly other search results that could be tested, but that is for another article at another time. It will be interesting to see what direct and/or indirect reactions will be published by others in manufactured housing because of these test results shown herein.
That said, the results above merit the following as a relevant and related topic of importance.
Part II Additional Information with More MHProNews Analysis and Commentary in Brief
In reply to an inquiry about the reliability of SimilarWeb’s website traffic data, the Bing AI chat function produced this response.
However, it is important to note that SimilarWeb’s data is not always accurate. According to a study by Screaming Frog, SimilarWeb was only 1% accurate 1/25 times which means it is inaccurate 96% of the time2.
I hope this helps!
Learn more:
In a follow up inquiry by MHProNews to the Bing AI chat function, a response relevant to an attempted smear tactic by an industry blogger was produced.
What explains the difference between Google Analytics data for a website and Webalizer data for the same website?
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Learn more:
MHProNews has previously reported on the challenges, and apparent glitches, between SimilarWeb reporting, which relies upon Google Analytics. There are some that trust Google, but what the explanation shared via the Bing AI chat of those third-party tech sources made clear, a specific piece of code has to be added for Google to properly register results. Without that code, the results are skewed downward. That skew in the case of MHProNews – which does not add specifically that Google requires and SimilarWeb relies upon is significant. The vast majority of the traffic on MHProNews and MHLivingNews is missed for analytics purposes. One might wonder why our platforms don’t add that code to each and every page on our site, as some web-techies suggest? Simply put, there are some who do not trust Google. Why not? Among other reasons, there are researchers – think of Dr. Robert Epstein for instance – that have demonstrated that Google can produce a manipulated result.
The above is but one of the reports that have been published on MHProNews/MHLivingNews that references research on Google, Facebook, or others that have produced skewed search results. That said, from time to time the apparent cheap shot artist George F. Allen has purportedly attempted to make misleading claims about MHProNews’ traffic. Allen, arguably not unlike MHI, is in the business of paltering and omitting information that he finds inconvenient for certain claims he happens to be making at the time.
The above sheds light on anyone who attempts to use information which may appear to be ‘accurate’ in the sense that it portrays a claim by a third party, but does so without checking that third party’s reliability.
Let’s be clear. There may be some website out there that is attempting to produce information that purports to be ‘news’ and views about the manufactured housing industry that is useful for professionals, researchers, investors, public officials, and others than those that MHProNews has periodically fact checked and provided reports with analysis and commentary on. Our focus has been on sources like these: MHI’s emails, because MHI routinely fails to post their emailed ‘news’ on the publicly facing pages of their own website as fact checks like the ones below reflect.
We have looked at attorney Kurt Kelley led ManufacturedHousingReview, which is a slick looking digital publication that is in some ways the fairest of the non-MHProNews/MHLivingNews trade media. How is that measured? In part by seeing how those others mentioned herein deal with the news provided by the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR). Note how in a search result in the test above, MHARR’s website appeared. In several other possible inquiries, MHARR ranks higher than MHI on manufactured housing focused issues. That may be the topic of a future article. Kelley and his MHReview have from time to time published a MHARR news release in toto. Our analysis has revealed that they are still largely pro-MHI. As a quarterly, they simply don’t publish often enough to be routinely considered among the ‘news’ sources. To his credit, Kurt Kelley frankly told MHProNews that he wasn’t trying to be a source that checks others for accountability. It was an insightful remark, because a function of good journalism ought to be accountability.
Perhaps among the more frequently reviewed on our platforms are those by MHI linked MHInsider. Less often are checks of the ManufacturedHomes.com blog, and George F. Allen and his blog. Allen’s blog has its moments when they appear to attempt to hold MHI accountable, but in recent years, the evidence-based case can be made that it is largely self-serving fare. As a former Allen client told MHProNews, ‘With George it is AAA. All About Allen.’ That pithy insight speaks volumes. It is also worth noting that MHI has once more provided evidence in a recent email that they have on some level been working with George Allen. A fresh whistleblower is needed to learn more about that deal between Allen, MHI, and some of their ‘insiders.’
Despite being supported by MHARR members, ManufacturedHomes.com has clearly thrown in with MHI. Editorially, MHProNews would observe that MHARR members should think twice about working with them, MHVillage/MHInsider, or Allen on a professional level. It is illogical and unwise to feed a hand that is apparently working with your ‘enemy’ or competition.
In fairness and accuracy, Allen from time to time will respond to inquiries, but his responses are routinely in that mold of…AAA. All about Allen. It apparently and reportedly ‘eats George up’ that MHProNews dominates in the manufactured housing trade media space. Some of his, and his colleagues, outrageous claims have from time to time been debunked. That said, and FWIW, there was an instance when Allen said the following in response to an inquiry. In making that remark, Allen spotlighted the fact that others in what passes for MHVille trade media are not seriously researching and reporting “on troublesome issues throughout the manufactured housing industry today.” It is a compliment, but also one that begs other questions.
This brief segue leaves MHInsider. They have in recent years routinely declined comments or direct reactions to MHProNews (as arguably has ManufacturedHomes.com). The known evidence has shown that MHInsider has not resonated with the manufactured housing professional audience. MHInsider turned off their page ‘view’ function, because they were obviously low. Their turning off their previously used and publicly available page view function occurred after a series of fact check, reports and analysis by MHProNews. ManufacturedHomes has on occasion thrown a bone to MHARR’s reporting, but absolutely not to the degree that they could or arguably should. MHARR is conservative in the sense that they do not write something that they don’t have clear evidence for, is stated in a legally correct fashion, and that they could defend if necessary. MHARR’s emails to the industry, unlike those from MHI, have since 2017 routinely been posted on their own website. More recently, MHARR has begun issuing periodic mainstream media releases too. As was noted, MHARR and mainstream media releases are among those that appeared in the searches using the Bing system shown above.
There are searches in manufactured housing that will produce results for MHV’s MHInsider or ManufacturedHomes.com. However, Bing and Google are among those places where money can buy online influence. On some of the most relevant subjects that shed light on industry underperformance and controversies in manufactured housing MHI, MHInsider, ManufacturedHomes will have little or no insights on them. Allen’s blog may contradict itself within the same post, and certainly between posts, which arguably makes ‘relying’ on him for sound (vs. AAA type remarks) information dubious. Thinkers searching for the truth on a subject who have critical reasoning skills are unlikely to find Allen satisfying. He is an apparent occasional proxy for MHI used to attack, distract, and obscure, while elevating himself (AAA – All About Allen) as the self-proclaimed expert on things per sources he may have little or no successful experiences in.
Having surveyed others in MHVille trade media or information sources, let’s pivot back to the Bing Chat function responses above and which follows.
More on Bing Search/Chat
In an article on tech focused Wired, one that may be the source for a follow up on this issue, called these new AI supported chat functions “pretty little liars.” Specifically: “We designed trials to compare our chatbot overlords from OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google. They’re smart, they’re interactive—and they’re pretty little liars.”
Wired gave Bing credit for showing their sources without extra effort needed. That is one good reason why the above was performed using Bing’s search.
What this exercise provides are several insights. In no particular order of importance are the following.
- 1). Among them is the point that MHProNews, MHLivingNews, and MHARR are the top places online to uncover an evidence-based understanding of why the manufactured housing industry is underperforming during an affordable housing crisis.
- 2). The chat function is interesting but imperfect. An example of that is that MHI actually had nothing about Scholastica Cororaton’s manufactured housing research, despite Bing’s chat claim that they had a post. This is significant for manufactured housing, but it should also be significant for anyone on any topic online. If you truly want accurate information on a controversial topic, sadly, there may be a need to dig, dig, and dig some more. The Wired review indicated as much.
- 3). It will not be a surprise to see how the internet giants like Google, Bing, and others continue to attempt to arguably manipulate their audiences in favor of themselves and their allies. Again, MHProNews will point readers to the research by Dr. Robert Epstein, a self-proclaimed Democrat who nevertheless found that the Google search engines was manipulating results in favor of Democrats. He and Peter Schweitzer of the Government Accountability Institute (GAI) are among those who have been leading an effort to expose and challenge Google and Facebook in their searches ‘weaponized’ deployment of information. Business Insider in a report stressed the ties between big tech and the CIA.
Significantly more could be said, but a look at the related reports will be useful in that regard. A follow up report on MHProNews/MHLivingNews is planned on these emerging AI search technologies in the foreseeable future, please stay tuned.
Those points made the following is important.
- 1) According to Webalizer, which research posted above makes clear is more accurate in its site data, millions of visits occur annually on both MHProNews and MHLivingNews. There are simply no other known ‘news, tips, and views’ resources like them anywhere in manufactured housing.
- 2) While MHI has been online much longer than MHARR and has much more money to throw around on internet and other items, MHARR has increasingly been making its mark online. These search results (recall that some of the screen captures above had to be clicked to be seen) are evidence of that claim.
MHI spend significant dollars on tech, per their IRS Form 990s, which are not completely revealing. MHI has far more staff than MHARR. MHI has more money than MHARR. But MHARR has proven itself to be reliable and resourceful in getting and keeping their perspective on key issues out front. While MHARR is a sponsor of our site, MHI used to be one too. Several of MHI’s members were also sponsors of our site in days gone by. It was when MHProNews/MHLivingNews began exposing the underlying problems in manufactured housing in a more systematic fashion that MHI and their dominating brands apparently pulled their ads and support. This despite the fact that third-party comparisons from an MHI member brand performed between us and rivals revealed that our platform reportedly produces results. The competitors reportedly did not. That begs legal questions that relate to possible market manipulating collusion using the wires.
That merits emphasis. An interesting set of tests was done by Legacy Housing, which is an MHI member, of MHProNews vs. other ad sources. The results were clear, said Legacy’s marketing point person at that time. MHProNews reportedly produced the ONLY results for them. We were – and remain – a good investment for advertisers and sponsors. But we do not change our editorial analysis and commentary because of ad dollars. That was demonstrated when MHI et al pulled their support for MHProNews. The truth demonstrably matters more here than ill gotten money does.
Reasons for EARNED Trust, But Also Reasons for Concern About Others
No one provides more details, more evidence, or more cogent and fair analysis than MHProNews/MHLivingNews does anywhere in MHVille trade media. The known evidence suggests that we still get significantly more traffic than the MHI website. If someone trusts SimilarWeb and MHVillage’s own data claims, they may get more traffic than we do on MHProNews, but their MHInsider arguably is dwarfed by us. They do not dispute that evidence-based point when asked. But given that MHInsider, ManufacturedHomes.com, and MHI are claiming to be working to promote the industry – and the industry is in yet another 6 month or longer downturn – ought to beg for investigations by public officials. While the article linked below begins with the point about the DOE energy rule, it also hits on other aspects of the legal issues emerging in manufactured housing that are at the root of industry underperformance. Recall that it was underperformance that was asked of Bing AI – and they routinely pointed to MHProNews/MHLivingNews for explanations of that underperformance.
There is what has been called information warfare underway in the U.S.A. and there has been for years. If multiple award-winning pundit Chris Plante (formerly 17 years with CNN, now on WMAL radio and Newsmax TV) is correct, the left has won “information dominance” in the U.S. some years ago. Trust in mainstream media is low, per several surveys. That said, people still want to know about ‘the news.’
In manufactured housing, the most trusted source for information appears to be MHProNews. The data for 2022 shows that clearly.
That trust, in all humility and fairness, is earned. MHProNews and our sister site provide the known facts accurately. We correct an error if made (more accurately, when new information comes to light). We admit to having typos, but so do giants that have multiple editors. All sorts of media and professionals can get typos. While media giants may have fewer typos than we have, they may not be more accurate on the topics covered. We editorially believe that the evidence is clear. Manufactured housing is underperforming. Why is the industry underperforming?
Per this inquiry to Bing’s search and chat at about 5:44 AM on the same date and time shown above, the following.
What does Sam Strommen say about the Manufactured Housing Institute?
Bing search’s top results said this.
Bing’s Chat function said this when asked: “What does Sam Strommen say about the Manufactured Housing Institute?”
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Learn more:
- manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 2. manufacturedhomepronews.com 3. einnews.com 4. manufacturedhomepronews.com— see less
Well, well, well. That’s what AI – artificial intelligence – had to say about the causes of manufacutred housing industry underperformance. When Bing’s AI chat was asked: Would robust antitrust efforts help manufactured housing achieve its true potential?
Manufactured housing is an affordable housing option that has been gaining popularity in recent years. However, the industry is dominated by a few large companies that control most of the market share1. This lack of competition can lead to higher prices for consumers and less innovation in the industry. By enforcing antitrust laws, the government can promote competition in the manufactured housing industry and help smaller companies compete with larger ones1.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Learn more:
Note the above search did not cite an MHProNews connected source, but nevertheless used language much like what MHProNews/MHLivingNews have provided in recent years. A variation on the inquiry above produced these results from Bing’s AI.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Learn more:
Who are you going to trust for manufactured home industry news, tips, and view pros can use? This survey of results from Bing and related insights should make that clear. Perhaps a bit like Legacy Housing’s leadership has indicated, ‘we have been waiting for this for years.’ Enough said about that research for today. ##
Again, our thanks to free email subscribers and all readers like you, as well as our tipsters/sources, sponsors and God for making and keeping us the runaway number one source for authentic “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) (See Related Reports, further below. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)
By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position, and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
Related References:
The text/image boxes below are linked to other reports, which can be accessed by clicking on them.
No Kings in America? – John Sherman ‘Speaks’ to Manufactured Housing
