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Shopify, the leading e-commerce platform, has introduced new features powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to help merchants and customers create and find the best products online. For those looking to enhance their store further, Shopify development services can provide custom solutions tailored to their needs. The new Shopify AI tools are part of the Shopify Magic suite that launched in April last year.
Generative image fill for product photos
One of the new features is a media editor that allows merchants to change the background of their product photos without any Photoshop skills. The editor can also generate backgrounds and styles that match the existing product images in the merchant’s library. This feature will be available this spring.
Shopify’s vice president of products, Glen Coates, says that this feature is designed to help small and independent sellers who don’t have access to professional photography services. “We know not everyone has access to studios or mannequins, so we want to lower the barriers to entry for entrepreneurs to present their products in the best light,” Coates says in an interview. “We’re not forcing anyone to use this feature, but it will be an extra helping hand.”
Conversational search for product discovery
Another new feature is a semantic search engine that understands the natural language and intent of the customers. Instead of using keywords or filters, customers can type or speak their queries conversationally, such as “I need a men’s suit to wear to a wedding in spring.” The search engine will then return the most relevant results for men’s wedding suits based on the context and preferences of the customers.
Coates says that this feature is based on the observation that people prefer to search more humanly, rather than using technical terms or operators. “We want to make online shopping as easy and intuitive as possible, and conversational search is a big part of that,” he says.
Other Shopify AI tools for online shopping
The new features join the existing Shopify AI tools that were added last spring, such as:
- Automated product descriptions: This feature generates unique and engaging descriptions for products based on their attributes and categories, saving time and effort for merchants.
- Chatbot integration: This feature enables merchants to integrate chatbots with their online stores, providing instant and personalized responses to customers’ questions and requests.
- Suggested replies for chats: This feature helps merchants to communicate with customers more effectively, by suggesting appropriate and friendly replies for common chat scenarios.
Shopify AI tools vs other e-commerce platforms
Shopify is not the only e-commerce platform that uses AI to enhance the online shopping experience. Other platforms, such as Amazon, also offer AI-powered features, such as:
- Product-specific questions: This feature allows customers to ask detailed questions about products, such as “Does this shirt have a pocket?” or “How long is the battery life of this laptop?”
- Product review summaries: This feature summarizes the main points and sentiments of product reviews, making it easier for customers to compare and evaluate products.
- Clothing size recommendations: This feature uses machine learning to recommend the best clothing size for customers based on their measurements and preferences.
However, Shopify claims that its AI tools are more accessible and affordable for small and independent sellers, who make up a large portion of its user base. Shopify also hosts larger brands, such as Kim Kardashian’s Skims, but its main focus is on empowering entrepreneurs and creators.
Coates says that the suite of Shopify AI tools with a mix of AI foundation models, such as GPT and Llama 2, and customized for each feature. He also says that Shopify has watermarking and moderation tools built in to ensure the quality and safety of the generated content. “We use the best AI models for the job, and we make sure they are aligned with our values and standards,” he says.
