The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) and Microsoft Corp. have established an AI Innovation Lab to enhance ELC’s more than 20 prestige beauty brands with generative AI capabilities. The partnership will focus on responding faster to social trends and consumer demands, facilitated by a generative AI chatbot; enhancing product innovation in R&D; and leveraging data assets for more personalised consumer interactions, faster decision-making and increased local relevance. Shelley Bransten, Corporate Vice President of Global Industry Solutions at Microsoft, highlights the potential for improved customer engagement, accelerated product launches and sustainable innovation through generative AI.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in the strategic alliance between ELC and Microsoft, which began in 2017 and previously led to the development of the Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant (VMA) mobile app, designed to help visually impaired users apply makeup with confidence. This reflects ELC and Microsoft’s shared commitment to using AI technology for social impact and consumer empowerment.
