Estée Lauder Companies and Microsoft deepen their partnership with a new AI Innovation Lab. The companies will use generative AI to speed up product development, enhance marketing, and create more personalised beauty experiences across ELC’s global portfolio of over 20 prestige brands.
Estée Lauder Companies and Microsoft have announced a new step in their partnership with the launch of an AI Innovation Lab. This lab will use advanced generative AI technology from Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. This will help ELC’s 20+ beauty brands connect more closely with customers and bring products to market faster, with more local relevance.
The partnership will focus on using AI in two key areas:
- Faster marketing response: ELC and Microsoft have created an internal AI chatbot that helps marketing teams around the world. It uses conversational AI to quickly search through ELC’s large database of product information and claims. This helps teams create campaigns that respond faster to social media trends and consumer demands.
- Quicker product development: Generative AI tools are also being used in ELC’s research and development. These tools help scientists and developers respond to new ingredient and product trends more quickly, speeding up innovation.
The AI Innovation Lab strengthens the relationship between the two companies, which began in 2017. One notable result of this partnership is the Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant app. Launched in early 2023, the app helps visually impaired users apply makeup more confidently using voice guidance. It’s already available in the U.S., U.K., and Ireland, with plans to expand globally.
Together, ELC and Microsoft are using AI to reimagine the beauty industry and improve the consumer experience.
From the leadership desk
Jane Lauder, EVP, Enterprise Marketing, and chief data officer, The Estée Lauder Companies.
“At ELC, technology is always in support of our enduring strengths of high-quality products and high-touch consumer experiences. With Microsoft’s generative AI tools and extensive expertise, we are able to leverage ELC’s tremendous data to create more personalized consumer experiences and faster insights to action resulting in increased speed to market and stronger local relevancy. We look forward to continuing our close and collaborative partnership with Microsoft.”
Shelley Bransten, corporate vice president, Global Industry Solutions, Microsoft.
“Generative AI represents a significant opportunity for the beauty industry — creating more engaging customer experiences, getting products into the hands of consumers faster, developing new products more efficiently and sustainably, and much more. We’re proud to collaborate with The Estée Lauder Companies to provide not only a platform for AI innovation, but also deep partnership to bring these new innovations to life.”
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