Spree adds AI-powered image search to iOS app

Online retailer Spree has today announced an app feature that allows users to find clothing items that are similar to uploaded images.

Available now on the iOS app version, the retailer says it’s the first in Africa to offer the feature that employs “the latest artificial intelligence technologies”.

The move, Spree explains, is a bid to remain ahead of disruptive trends in the retail industry.

“Searching for items with photos and images saves consumers from having to type keyword combinations, which is especially challenging on mobile devices,” Spree’s head of customer experience Sven Schoof, explains.

“In a world where words are commonly replaced by emojis and images, it makes sense that our shopping habits follow the same path and we’re very proud to be the first online retailer in Africa to lead this visual trend.”

How does it work?

The Spree app now features a camera icon within its search bar, allowing users to upload images from their devices.

Once uploaded, the app will “return visually similar items in seconds,” notes a company press release.

Spree adds that “shoppers can tap and hold any product image in a Category or Search results view and the feature will highlight items that are visually similar”.

Users who can’t find what they want can also add a number of filters to their searches, including colour, patterns and textures.

There’s no word on when the Android app will adopt the feature.