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Google is rolling out some exciting new features for its AI-powered shopping platform, Search Generative Experience (SGE), this December. These features will allow you to use artificial intelligence to create and find products that match your preferences and needs.
How to use AI to generate images of products
One of the new features is AI-powered image generation for shopping. This feature lets you imagine a product that you want and then search for similar products that exist online.
Julie Black, Google’s Director of Product for Consumer Shopping, explained in a blog post how this feature works. She said, “Soon when you use SGE to look for apparel, you’ll have the option to generate photorealistic images inspired by the words you search — and shop products that match those images.”
For instance, if you are looking for a winter coat, you can type that in and Google will generate an image of a coat for you. You can then modify the image by adding more words, such as “more colorful” or “shiny metallic fabric”. Once you are satisfied with the image, Google will use its image recognition technology to scan through the 35 billion products that are connected to Google’s AI-powered shopping tool and find the closest matches for you.
How to use AI to get gift ideas
Another new feature is AI-generated gift suggestions. This feature helps you find the perfect gift for someone based on your search terms.
If you opt-in for this feature, Google will use AI to generate some gift ideas for you based on what you type in. For example, if you type in “great gifts for home cooks”, Google will show you some AI-generated suggestions, such as specialty tools, artisanal ingredients, culinary subscriptions, or cooking classes.
You can also refine your search by adding more details, such as the budget, the occasion, or the recipient’s interests. Google will then show you more relevant and personalized gift ideas.
How to use AI to try on clothes virtually
The third new feature is a virtual home try-on. This feature lets you see how clothes look on you or someone else without having to go to a store or order online.
This feature has been available for women’s clothing for some time, but now it has been expanded to men’s tops as well. When you search for men’s tops, Google will show you results from participating brands, such as Abercrombie, Banana Republic, J.Crew, and Under Armour. You can then click on the “try on” button and Google will show you AI-generated images of models wearing the clothes.
You can choose from a variety of models who resemble you based on factors like body type and skin color. You can also adjust the size, fit, and color of the clothes to see how they look on you.
How to access Google’s AI-powered shopping tools
Google’s AI-powered shopping tools are only available if you opt-in. You can check if you are eligible and opt-in here. There are some restrictions and limitations to these features, so make sure you read the terms and conditions before using them.
Why Google’s AI-powered shopping tools are important
These new features are not just fun and convenient, but they also show the potential of AI to transform the way we search and shop online. They demonstrate how AI can understand our natural language, generate realistic images, and personalize our experiences.
In the past, there was a lot of discussion about how AI could pose a threat to Google’s Search business, especially after the emergence of ChatGPT, an AI system that can generate text on any topic. However, that talk has faded away, and Google has shown that it can use AI to enhance its Search business instead.
Google Search and its competitors have traditionally relied on keywords to organize and retrieve information on the web. This means that we have to adapt our queries to the language that the computer can understand. However, the ultimate goal of AI is to enable the computer to understand our language and answer our questions as if we were talking to another person. If that happens, it will change the way we interact with the internet and the world.
Google’s new AI-powered shopping tools are a glimpse of that future. They may be useful or gimmicky, but they are definitely a preview of what AI can do for us.
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