Visual search in Bing chat: will it open doors to elevate brand discovery?

Published: July 19, 2023

min read

It is well known that tech giants—Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Meta, etc.—are already in a race to develop advanced generative A.I. tools and incorporate AI features on their platforms to establish their advocacy in the AI space while finding ways to enhance the user experience with it.

Needless to mention Microsoft’s collaboration with OpenAI to integrate chatGPT into Bing and Google’s step towards its own AI tool, Bard. In fact, Meta recently announced that it is leveraging AI tools to run at a fast pace towards its metaverse goals.

To take the game to the next level, Microsoft recently announced a slew of new AI-powered advancements aimed at improving search technology and increasing workplace productivity.

One of the major announcements includes Visual Search in Bing Chat.

As reported by Microsoft, people can upload images to Bing Chat and use the web's vast information to get answers on everything from destinations for travel to meal ideas.

The introduction of Visual Search in Chat is undoubtedly the most innovative advancement in the SEO industry.

This new feature, made possible by OpenAI's GPT-4 model, allows users to upload images and search for related web content.

It represents a step forward in chatbot technology, expanding beyond text prompts to embrace visual inputs. The end result is a more user-friendly and capable search platform.

While innovations affirm enhanced search and data experiences, they also point to a future in which AI is more deeply rooted in everyday tools.

In addition to Visual Search in Bing Chat, Microsoft released a few updates on Bing Chat Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Copilot.

How impactful will it be for businesses?

As the popularity of AI keeps exploding, tech giants continue to break boundaries by introducing new features on their platforms.

Even the recent move by Microsoft to build image capabilities into Bing Chat could be a response to Google, which recently launched an image search feature for its AI Chabot, Bard.

Whatever the case, as visual search makes the work way quicker and easier for users, we believe this new feature will possibly make Microsoft’s Bing chat look more compelling for users and beneficial for businesses.

Here are the reasons why we believe so:

As Visual Search helps audiences see exactly what they want, which is not the case in traditional text-based search, it has gained more traction among users, particularly the younger generation, in recent times. Thus, undoubtedly, the new feature in Bing Chat paves the way for businesses to reach potential customers who prefer browsing visually. This will also make it easier for businesses to cut through the noise, gain the attention of potential customers, and increase their product visibility.
Visual Search can provide plenty of valuable data and insights for businesses. Thus, by thoroughly examining the user behaviour and preferences connected to visual search queries, businesses will be able to better understand the current trends, kinds of products people prefer finding via visual search, and demands more effectively. This, in turn, will significantly help businesses enhance their marketing strategies, optimise their product offerings, and make data-driven decisions to improve overall performance.
While striving to find products via text-based search, users will have to check through a number of pages with nearly identical products. Whereas Bing Chat’s new Visual Search feature can ideally reduce the steps required to find and purchase a product. This will indeed be helpful for brands to make the path smooth for users. Which, will potentially enhance the user experience with the brands and help brands increase their conversions.
As the competition is already fierce in the market, businesses are in need of paying attention to advanced technologies and embracing them to keep up with trends. Thus, by implementing stronger image SEO for additional opportunities via the Visual Search feature in Bing Chat, brands can gain a competitive advantage as it will enable them to differentiate from competitors. Besides, as Visual Search simplifies the search process for users, this can help them attract tech-savvy younger demographics and contribute to a positive brand image.

Overall, Microsoft’s recent moves apparently show how fiercely the company is striving to move ahead with AI technology. And, in our opinion, the incorporation of visual search into Bing Chat will definitely contribute to making the experience more intuitive and interactive for users and expanding the opportunity for brands.

Author

Pete Johnson

Pete is a MarTech expert guru with a knack for getting diverse MarTech solutions work for brands. He has a wealth of experience in working with a plethora of MarTech platforms that dive Personalized Omnichannel Experiences. When he's not at work, you can find him playing basketball or listening to jazz.