Google Shopping, the company’s platform dedicated to product discovery, is set to enhance its services with a range of new artificial intelligence (AI) features. The upgrades were announced on Wednesday, with the aim of facilitating product exploration and purchasing experiences for users. The focus of these AI-driven enhancements is primarily on the apparel and cosmetics sectors.
According to a blog post from Google, the new features will initially be available to users in the United States, although the company has not specified when they might roll out in other regions. The first feature combines image generation with visual search capabilities to assist users in locating desirable clothing items.
This innovative tool is designed for situations where users have a specific clothing item in mind but struggle to find it through conventional search methods. Users can now access a prompt that reads “Can’t find it? Create it,” enabling them to describe the outfit they’re looking for. The AI will then generate a variety of images matching that description.
Once users select an image that aligns closely with their vision, the platform will conduct a visual search to identify products that resemble the generated image. This feature had been tested previously as part of an experiment in Google Labs.
In addition, the platform is introducing a virtual try-on feature for makeup, allowing users to experiment with various beauty looks. This tool employs AI and augmented reality (AR) to overlay makeup effects as a filter on users’ faces. To utilize this feature, users can look up celebrity makeup styles or specific terms like “spring makeup,” which will display a variety of looks for them to try.
After choosing a makeup style and enabling the AR mode, the AI will apply effects such as eyelashes, blush, lip gloss, and mascara on the user’s face to help them visualize the potential look. If they find a style they like, a list of compatible makeup products will be available for purchase.
Moreover, Google Shopping is expanding its virtual try-on capabilities for clothing. The platform previously allowed users to view tops and dresses on models of various sizes, but it is now adding pants and skirts to its selection. Users can choose a model that best resembles their own body type, and any selected items will be displayed to illustrate fit and length. Google has stated that it is leveraging its machine learning models to enhance the accuracy of fit and style representation.
