Earlier this year, Google added artificial intelligence to its online shopping tool to show how clothes from particular retailers would fit different body types. Now this feature has expanded to include men’s tops. It’s the next step in Google’s push to incorporate generative AI – that is, AI that can create content from training data when asked – into its range of online products and services.
The Google Shopping feature, which launched in June with brands including Anthropologie, Everlane, H&M and Loft, uses artificial intelligence to generate an image of a clothing item on a real model, with the goal of showing what clothing sizes look like on real people. It’s one of efforts by major online companies and retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, to improve home shopping and virtual trying-on experiences.
These AI-powered shopping features are part of Search Generative Experience, an experimental version of Google Search that requires registration.
While Google uses artificial intelligence to generate photos of a desired clothing item, it uses real people to show how that outfit fits. Shyam Sunder, Google’s group product manager responsible for the virtual try-on feature, said at a June press conference that the company had hired 80 models (40 women and 40 men) to create this shopping option.
Sunder said Google only needs one photo of a clothing item from a seller’s website to create an artificial representation of that item on the model. Google’s technology can show how the material will “drape, fold, adhere, stretch, and create wrinkles and shadows,” Lilian Rincon, senior director of consumer products at Google, wrote in the company. blog post in June. Google supported women’s tops at launch and announced then that it planned to expand the offer to other categories as well.
The demo also featured multiple models with different body types for each size option. The company said it selected models with a variety of skin tones and whose clothing sizes range from twice-extra-small to quadruple-extra-large. In addition to viewing sizes, you can find similar products in a variety of prices, colors and designs.
An example of the Google Shopping feature showing how the green Everlane top looks on different models.
In the past, tech and retail giants have tried to make the process of trying on clothes easier. Last year, Walmart announced a feature very similar to the one offered by Google. Called Select My modelallows users to choose from 50 models of different heights, sizes, body shapes and skin tones to see what the clothes will look like. Amazon also announced virtual rehearsal function for shoes last year.
However, Google’s announcement reflects a broader shift among tech giants to embrace generative AI and use it in their most important products. Earlier this year, the Google I/O developer conference, where the company usually presents updates on new products and technologies, focused on artificial intelligence. (In fact, the company mentioned the word AI more than 140 times during its keynote).
Microsoft has also placed a heavy emphasis on this technology in products such as Bing and Windows. Amazon is also reportedly working on a new ChatGPT-style search engine for its sprawling store Bloomberg.
Editor’s note: CNET uses an AI engine to help produce some stories. More information can be found in this post.
