"For all its speed and convenience, e-commerce has long risked losing something essential: the sense of discovery that makes shopping joyful. Transactions and next-day deliveries have been perfected, but has it been at the expense of inspiration? Now, as AI-powered search transforms how people find products online, retail is entering a new phase - one in which shopping can start with an image, an idea, or a feeling, in place of a keyword."
"As shopping journeys evolve, inspiration - not information - is fast becoming the new starting point. But this shift also raises a crucial question: if AI accelerates discovery, can it preserve what makes inspiration feel human? The challenge for platforms and retailers alike is to ensure technology doesn't flatten creativity. The best is actually yet to come. Technology has the power to amplify it."
"Visual search sits at the center of this shift. For generations, beautiful visuals have been at the heart of shopping - a well-dressed window, the glint of new leather, the joy of stumbling upon an unforgettable dress or a book you never set out to buy. Now, that same instinct is being replicated online through AI-powered visual search. It lets people find products based on images rather than text, bringing the physical experience of "seeing and wanting" into digital environments."
E-commerce has prioritized speed and convenience, often compromising the sense of discovery that makes shopping joyful. Digital sales are projected to exceed $8 trillion by 2028, yet most consumers find online shopping uninspiring. Inspiration is emerging as the new starting point for shopping journeys, shifting focus from information to evocative experiences. AI-powered visual search enables discovery through images, ideas, and feelings rather than keywords, interpreting visual cues and emotional context to surface aesthetic intent. Platforms and retailers face the task of preserving human creativity as AI accelerates discovery, ensuring technology amplifies rather than flattens creative inspiration.
Read at Fortune
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