Amazon has updated its search engine with a feature that generates images using artificial intelligence. When describing an item like a shirt with a dropped collar, photos of products that don't actually exist appear. These images serve as a visual reference to find similar real items. The tool aims to simplify shopping when you can't remember the exact name of what you need.
How visual search with generative AI works 🧠
The system uses image generation models trained on real catalogs. When you enter a text description, the AI creates a visual representation of the item. Then, a matching algorithm compares that synthetic image with products available in Amazon's database. The result is a list of real items that resemble the generated image. The technology doesn't replace the catalog, but acts as a bridge between your idea and what exists in inventory.
Now AI sells you things it hasn't even manufactured 🤡
The best part is that now you can search for a cloud-shaped sofa and Amazon will show you an image of something that never existed. But don't worry, it then redirects you to a regular, ordinary sofa. It's like going to a store, describing a purple unicorn, and the salesperson draws one on a napkin for you, only to then take you to the plastic horse section. The magic of e-commerce: first they get you excited, then they sell you what they have.