Pinterest has upgraded its visual search capabilities with just a handful of new features.
On Monday, the company announced it would roll out new features to improve the ability for users to search using images instead of text. This includes new tools to narrow more precisely and improve your search, as well as tools that make visual searches more accessible on the Pinterest website.
The company believes the new additions will help Pinterest stand out as a search engine for what users may struggle to describe in terms such as atmosphere, style, and aesthetics.
One new enhancement will help users better understand what they like about certain pins, initially in the US, Canada and the UK women's fashion categories.
Here, when a user taps a pin, an animated glow will be displayed, generating words that will help people decide why Pinterest prefers pins first. The feature is equipped with a Visual Language Model (VLMS), a form of generator AI, the company says.
This addition is similar to Google's multimodal search, combining text and images into a single query. However, in this case, Pinterest is helping users by generating words that can be used to extend and narrow down your search queries. (The company points out that it uses “industry-leading” multimode embedded models, but did not specify which models.)
Another update allows users to improve their fashion search by looking for alternatives to items displayed in different colors, styles, or fabrics. For example, Pinterest suggests that you can use this to find a similar style with a “Y2K” aesthetic, or something similar to a blazer you like, but it's good for formal occasions.
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Pinterest also says it will expand its visual search in more areas within the app, such as allowing users to start a visual search on any pin in their home feed.
The update comes just after Pinterest announced that it will start labeling AI-generated images and that users can quickly limit the number of AI images they are seeing. People were beginning to worry that AI would ruin Pinterest. Because it's even more difficult to find authentic images that could inspire future shopping.
Combined with AI-focused updates and improved visual search, Pinterest hopes to reestablish its use as a visual shopping tool that leverages AI.