Julie Bornstein’s Daydream is releasing an AI-powered chatbot for fashion-related shopping

Julie Bornstein's startup, Daydream, is making waves in the fashion e-commerce space with the launch of its AI-driven shopping chatbot. Following a substantial seed funding round of $50 million nearly a year ago, Daydream is now ready to roll out this innovative tool to a wider audience after successful tests with select users. The chatbot invites users to provide information such as their name, birthdate, budget, and brand preferences. Whether you’re searching for a stunning dress for a summer wedding in Paris or looking for a specific piece, users can either type their requests or upload images to enhance their search. The interface allows for customized searches, and items can be saved to personalized collections. For those wanting to refine their selections, the “Say More” button enables adjustments to color and style preferences. Drawing from user input and initial onboarding data, Daydream curates a 'style passport' that generates tailored suggestions. The web app also offers daily inspiration featuring items and accessories that align with user tastes. Currently, Daydream does not facilitate direct purchases; when users click on an item, they are redirected to the respective retailer’s site to finalize the transaction, from which Daydream receives a commission. At launch, the platform boasts an impressive catalog of over 8,000 brands, with new merchants being onboarded at no charge. Bornstein, who has an extensive background in e-commerce with notable roles at companies like Nordstrom and Sephora, emphasized the importance of evolving search technology in the fashion industry. "Search has always been the forgotten child in e-commerce, often failing to meet user needs," Bornstein explained. With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, consumers are becoming more adept at formulating inquiries that can yield better results. The goal of Daydream is to empower users to express their fashion needs freely, whether they are searching for something specific or simply browsing. Maria Belousova, the newly appointed CTO, highlighted the complexity of understanding product nuances. Traditional keyword-based searches often fall short in a world where shoppers use longer, more detailed queries. Daydream aims to grasp stylistic and social attributes of items, enhancing the search experience with advanced visual recognition technology. Looking ahead, Daydream plans to incorporate user feedback more explicitly, allowing customers to specify dislikes, such as avoiding certain shoe styles. The company also envisions features that promote social sharing, enabling users to seek opinions from friends on their saved items or modify collections created by others. As Daydream carves out its niche in the competitive fashion tech landscape, it faces competition from other startups and major players like Amazon and Google, all striving to redefine the online shopping experience through AI.