Glance AI: InMobi Founder Envisions AI-Driven Shopping Revolution
Startup Launches AI Commerce Platform to Transform Global Retail
Indian tech entrepreneur Naveen Tewari, founder of InMobi and Glance AI, has unveiled a groundbreaking AI commerce platform that he claims will redefine global shopping. The launch of Glance AI, announced on May 22, marks a significant step in the company’s 18-year journey, with Tewari calling it their most ambitious project to date.
AI-Driven Shopping: A New Era in Consumer Experience
Tewari envisions Glance AI as a transformative force in the world of commerce, akin to how UPI revolutionized payments and GPT redefined artificial intelligence. In a recent interview with CNBC-TV1/>
“All of these are fundamental shifts in the way consumer experiences change in the world,” Tewari said. “And I think Glance AI is exactly that for commerce in the world. It’s going to change the way the world shops… it’s the biggest, the boldest thing we’ve ever done,” he added.
Global Reach and AI Innovation
Glance AI is already available in 140 countries, targeting the “AI consumer”—a demographic that expects technology to anticipate their tastes and spark desire before they even know what they want. The platform uses advanced diffusion and geometry modeling to enable users to discover AI-curated looks by simply uploading a selfie or image.
Through a GenAI experience model, the platform generates photorealistic renderings tailored to thousands of parameters such as gender, body type, ethnicity, skin tone, fit, style, and season. This allows users to see how a particular piece of clothing will look on them.
Smart Shopping with AI Agents
Glance AI also features an AI agent that understands shopping intent before consumers do. By pairing visualizations with best-matched products from millions of global catalogues, the platform offers a seamless shopping experience.
“We are leveraging artificial intelligence for the first time, bringing intelligence to commerce,” Tewari noted. “We have created a foundation model for commerce but that… is a global model. We are tuned and trained to think that we can write software, build products, and now train models on which the world will run. So, we think [of] the world as a market and [that] we are good enough to create software [and] products that the world should love to use,” he added.
Integration with Global Tech Platforms
Glance AI has integrated its proprietary models with cutting-edge platforms including Google Gemini and Imagen on Vertex AI. As a fully opt-in platform, it allows consumers to explore looks, save or share them, and set them as wallpapers.
Built on an open architecture with deep integrations across hardware and software with manufacturers, telecom operators, and brands, Glance AI turns smartphones into AI phones, TVs into household commerce devices, and brand stores into AI shopfronts. With one tap, users can now explore looks and products from 400+ global brands while retaining control over their data.
Early Success and Future Plans
According to the startup, early results from Glance AI’s US trials signal strong consumer engagement for inspiration-led shopping. In just a few weeks, the platform has attracted more than 1.5 million active users, half of whom return weekly after trying the experience. Users have generated over 40 million style requests; 50% download or share their personalized styles; and 40% tap through to begin a shopping journey.
While the initial model is trained on fashion, Glance plans to extend the same experience to categories such as beauty, accessories, and travel later this year.
Conclusion: A New Dawn for AI-Driven Commerce
Glance AI represents a bold step into the future of shopping, leveraging AI to create a more personalized and intuitive consumer experience. As the platform expands its reach and capabilities, it has the potential to reshape the global retail landscape in ways previously unimaginable.