Google Photos to launch AI-powered wardrobe management tool

On Wednesday, Google Photos announced a new AI-powered feature that will turn photos of clothes into a digital closet. The tool is designed to allow users to organize and mix-and-match outfits directly from their photo libraries. According to the announcement, the feature will roll out to Google Photos on Android later this summer, with an iOS release scheduled to follow. Once launched, the feature will be located under the “Collections” section of the app.

The upcoming feature will leverage artificial intelligence to automatically create a digital copy of a user’s wardrobe based on the clothing items that appear in their Google Photos library. The AI will recognize clothing and accessories to generate individual snapshots of each item. Within the app, users will be able to filter their wardrobe by categories such as tops, bottoms, and jewelry, and then mix and match these pieces to build different outfits. These outfit combinations can be saved to digital moodboards for various occasions or shared directly with friends. Additionally, the tool will include a virtual try-on feature, allowing users to preview how different looks will appear.

This move places Google Photos in direct competition with a variety of wardrobe management and digital closet applications. Once the feature rolls out, it will compete with existing apps such as Acloset, Combyne, Pureple, Whering, and Alta. While these startups have built audiences for virtual fashion organization, Google’s entry introduces a competitor with a built-in photo library, offering a similar utility without requiring users to download a separate application.

The concept of a digital closet draws inspiration from the virtual wardrobe featured in the 1995 film Clueless, where the main character could scroll through her clothing options to select an outfit. While such technology was once depicted as an inaccessible luxury, Google is betting that AI technology will make it possible for anyone to access a digital closet tool. The company expects the tool to improve over time as AI capabilities advance, lowering the barrier to entry for automated wardrobe management.

Why it matters

Google is betting that AI technology will make it possible for anyone to have access to a digital closet tool, aiming to recreate the easy outfit creation popularized by the 1995 film Clueless. By integrating this utility directly into a photo app, Google could compete with standalone wardrobe assistants and bring virtual styling to a broader audience.