ThredUp rolls out new AI search, chat tools
ThredUp is adding artificial intelligence tools to streamline its shopping experience.
The onine fashion resale platform unveiled a suite of three AI-based solutions designed to enhance its e-commerce site, including an improved search function. Customers can now use natural language to locate products. This includes using general search terms such as "floral dresses" or "light pink knee-length dress with ruffles," or more specific queries like "swimsuit for a triathlon" or "tank tops for the Fourth of July."
The other new features include:
- Image search: Customers can now upload a photo, snap a picture of a garment, or share an Instagram post to find matching or similar items within ThredUp's inventory using visually-based search.
- Style chat: ThredUp's new AI-powered chatbot is designed to help customers create complete outfits. Shoppers can provide a prompt, such as "outfit for a fall wedding," and the chatbot will generate a complete ensemble. Customers can then personalize results by adjusting parameters like color, style, and coverage.
ThredUp's new AI shopping technology is built on machine learning algorithms that understand natural language and visual cues. These algorithms are designed to continuously learn and improve to help deliver relevant and personalized results.
[READ MORE: Exclusive Q&A: ThredUp looks at the state of resale]
"AI presents an enormous leap forward for secondhand shopping by bringing emotion and storytelling to the millions of unique shopping journeys that happen regularly on ThredUp," said James Reinhart, CEO of ThredUp. "Given the breadth of our offering with millions of unique items available in our marketplace at any given time, generative AI technology is accelerating how we’re changing the way consumers shop and providing the easiest and most fun way to shop sustainably."
ThredUp has become one of the world's largest online resale platforms for apparel, shoes and accessories and has processed over 200 million unique secondhand items from 60,000 brands across 100 categories. Numerous retailers have rolled out resale partnerships with ThredUp including Journeys, The Container Store, Toms, American Eagle, H&M, Kate Spade and Francesca’s.
