Ask Ralph: Where style meets AI—a new era of conversational commerce
In recent years, AI has become an integral part of our everyday lives, changing how we gather information and manage our schedules. From smart search engines to virtual assistants that help us plan our holidays, AI is the key to the ease we now take for granted.
Moreover, it’s revolutionising the shopping experience. More and more, we’re tapping into AI tools that simplify product searches. But that’s only the beginning—just as shoppers enjoy guidance in stores, online, they want suggestions that resonate with their personal style.
Introducing Ask Ralph, an innovative AI styling assistant that not only aids in discovering products but also offers inspiration drawn from Ralph Lauren’s distinctive approach to fashion.
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Ask Ralph: Your AI fashion buddy
Ask Ralph is a conversational AI shopping experience built on Azure OpenAI,available in the Ralph Lauren app across the US. You can interact with Ask Ralph as you would with a personal stylist, asking straightforward, conversational questions or prompts to discover the ideal outfit for any event.
Whether you’re updating your autumn wardrobe or figuring out what to wear to a summer concert, Ask Ralph provides curated and stylish, visually appealing outfit suggestions from the Polo Ralph Lauren collection, customised to your specific requests.
The joy of conversational commerce
Ask Ralph is part of a larger trend—where AI not only assists but also inspires.
Using natural language, Ask Ralph understands open-ended questions, seeks clarification where needed, and presents beautifully arranged outfit recommendations based on your inquiries—all drawn from Ralph Lauren’s real-time product availability.
A blend of innovation and tradition
For almost 60 years, Ralph Lauren has been at the forefront of creating captivating retail experiences. Twenty-five years ago, they partnered with Microsoft to launch one of the first e-commerce platforms in fashion, setting a benchmark in the industry. Now, together, they’re once again redefining the shopping landscape with Ask Ralph.
In a recent interview, Naveen Seshadri, Ralph Lauren’s Chief Digital Officer, stated, “At Ralph Lauren, our primary focus is the consumer. We leverage cutting-edge technologies to craft a personalised experience that invites customers into Ralph’s iconic world at every interaction. The introduction of Ask Ralph underscores this commitment.”
To delve deeper into Naveen’s vision for Ask Ralph, check out the Ralph Lauren customer video.
Agentic AI: The new frontier
Ask Ralph is driven by Azure’s agentic AI capabilities—intelligent systems that can plan, reason, and act. These groundbreaking agents are reshaping retail by facilitating immersive and tailored experiences on a larger scale.
“At Ralph Lauren, our primary focus is the consumer. We leverage cutting-edge technologies to craft a personalised experience that invites customers into Ralph’s iconic world at every interaction. The introduction of Ask Ralph underscores this commitment.”
—Naveen Seshadri, Chief Digital Officer at Ralph Lauren
Inspiration through confidence and creativity
At its core, Ask Ralph is all about sparking creativity. It aims to assist individuals in uncovering unique ways to showcase their personal style.
This is just the start for Ask Ralph, which will continue to develop with new features that provide an even more tailored experience, with plans to expand across various markets, platforms, and additional Ralph Lauren labels.
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Learn more
Read the latest press release on Microsoft News.
Discover more about Ask Ralph and download the app from the Ralph Lauren website.
Check out the full Ralph Lauren customer story.
The post Ask Ralph: Fusing style with AI—ushering in a new era of conversational commerce originally appeared on Microsoft Azure Blog.
