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Pinterest’s visual search upgrade gets updated with a few capabilities. On Monday, the company announced it will release new functionality to improve its features. The update will allow users to search using an image instead of text. The new feature will allow new tools to narrow and refine searches more precisely. Similarly, the update also includes making visual search more accessible across Pinterest’s website.
Pinterest Visual Search Upgrade Integrates AI for Smarter Style Discovery
According to the company, the new additions will help Pinterest stand out among its peers. This will enable users to use search engines for things users may otherwise have trouble describing with words. For instance, users can now search for a vibe, style, or aesthetic.
Pinterest’s visual search upgrade aims to help users better understand what they like about a certain Pin. This was initially launched in the women’s fashion segment in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Moreover, when users tap on a Pin, they’ll see an animated glow. In consequence, the Pinterest visual search upgrade will generate some specific words. These words will now help people determine why they liked the pin in the first place. According to the company, Visual Language Models (VLMs) power this visual language as a form of generative AI.
The Pinterest visual search upgrade is similar to Google’s multimodal search, combining text and images into a single query. Conversely, Pinterest will assist users by generating words that they can use to augment and narrow their search queries. Interestingly, the company declares that it’s using “industry-leading” multimode embedding models. However, the company didn’t specify the ones they used in their address.
New Features Help Users Refine Aesthetic Searches with Visual Language Models
Pinterest has said another update will allow users to refine their fashion searches similarly. The company notes that users can seek alternatives to the item shown in a different colour, style, or fabric. For instance, Pinterest suggests you could use this to find a similar style with more of a “Y2K” aesthetic or find something similar to a blazer you liked but that works better for a formal occasion.
Pinterest also says it will expand its app’s visual search across more areas. This will include allowing users to long-press on any Pin on their home feed to kick off a visual search.
The Pinterest visual search upgrade comes after an announcement that Pinterest will begin labelling AI-generated images. Additionally, it’ll soon start allowing users to limit the number of AI images they’re shown after numerous user complaints. People had begun to worry that AI would ruin Pinterest. However, finding genuine photos to inspire their future shopping would be even harder.
However, TechPolyp notes that the continued AI integration is geared towards development rather than destruction. Recently, Reddit integrated Google’s Gemini into its operation to serve its users further. Therefore, Pinterest’s approach might be another integration to enhance the user experience.
Above all, combining the AI-focused update with improved visual search is a top strategy. This Pinterest visual search upgrade is suggested to re-establish its use as a visual shopping tool that leverages AI.
