EDITORIAL STANDARDS
How SMR covers synthetic research
We use company sources to describe products and link to the evidence behind our coverage.
What belongs in the directory
We list products that generate research responses, simulate audiences, activate research-based personas or augment collected research samples. We list individual products and their providers. An AI interviewer talking to real people is not, by that fact alone, a synthetic respondent.
How profiles are prepared
We use original product pages, documentation and company announcements to describe capabilities. Each profile links to its source and shows when it was checked. Categories help readers find products; a product may have other capabilities too.
Claims and evidence
We identify statements made by providers and link to their sources. When we cover original research, we include the publication and available details about its methods. Provider claims are not SMR test results. Recommendations and buying questions are SMR analysis.
Ordering and comparisons
The directory is ordered alphabetically by provider. Product comparisons use the same fields for each selected product. Homepage selections are editorial choices. The directory covers products we have identified and reviewed.
Commercial independence
Basic listings are free. Paid placements and sponsored material are labelled. Sponsorship does not affect reviews or the default directory order. Advertisers do not receive newsletter subscribers' contact details unless a reader asks to share them.
Content labels and authorship
Sponsored articles carry “Sponsored” above the headline and identify the sponsor. Paid directory placements and newsletter messages carry a visible “Sponsored” label alongside the placement. Contributed articles identify the author, their role and any connection to a provider discussed. A contributor’s product results are attributed to that provider. SMR checks factual statements against the cited material and edits contributions for clarity; publishing a contribution does not turn its reported results into an SMR performance test.
Standards updated .
Corrections
Providers and readers can submit a correction with the relevant URL and supporting material. We review the evidence and update a profile when needed. There is no charge to correct factual information.