Can AI finally fix online shopping? A hands-on test of GlanceAI and Google Try-On
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Woman's AI fridge rant goes viral, claims isn't intelligent after all
A woman claims her Samsung refrigerator with AI technology isn't so intelligent after all.
Shopping used to be simple. You walked into a store, tried on jeans, and decided in 30 seconds if they made your butt look weird. Today? Most of us shop online for everything — including clothes — and it often goes hilariously, tragically wrong.
According to Capital One Shopping Research, nearly 124 million Americans — one in every three of us — will buy clothes online this year. And we'll send back one out of every four of those items. That adds up to billions in lost revenue for retailers, and a pile of packaging waste, shipping costs and frustration for the rest of us. Flat product photos, inconsistent sizing charts, and confusing return rules are just part of the problem. Overall, online clothes shopping is still an expensive guessing game.
The age-old problem of 'What am I going to wear today?'
A new breed of AI-powered fashion tools is stepping in — not just to reduce returns, but to rewire how we discover and buy clothes in the first place.
I tested two of the biggest options: GlanceAI, a free virtual styling app for iOS and Android, and Google's new Try-On tool, which uses generative AI to show how clothes look on your actual body.
I bought clothes I genuinely like, using both of them. But are these next-gen tech tools perfect? Not yet. Here's what works, what doesn't and what you need to know.
Your selfie, styled
The way GlanceAI works is really simple. Upload a full-body selfie, and in seconds, GlanceAI shows photorealistic images of you wearing outfits curated to your body type, skin tone and even local weather. If you like what you see, tap to shop similar products from retailers like Macy's, Nordstrom and Zara.
The goal here is to turn your phone's camera into your personal stylist. Not a size-zero mannequin. Not a filter-heavy avatar. You.
'We're not trying to turn you into someone else,' GlanceAI CEO Naveen Tewari told me over a video call. 'We're trying to help you discover the best version of you.'
I tested it with a full-body selfie and got styled in outfits that genuinely looked like something I'd wear — from TV appearances and Zoom calls to farm chores and school drop-off. After some thumbs-up, thumbs-down tweaks, the images were surprisingly spot-on. No weird proportions. No six-fingered claw-hands. Tewari added, 'It's not just 'what shirt fits me?' It's 'what outfit makes sense for me right now, in my city, with my vibe?'"
According to the company, in less than a month since its launch, the app has created more than 40 million personalized outfit images for over 1.5 million users in the U.S. alone, with 40% of them shopping in the app on a weekly basis. GlanceAI earns money through affiliate sales.
Consumer-friendly technology: How McAfee's Scam Detector can help you spot fraudulent texts
Where GlanceAI promises to improve
GlanceAI still feels like a beta app, essentially because it is. I gave Tewari a laundry list of tweaks and features that I want to see, and he told me they're all on the way.
The main 'cover' outfits — the ones in categories like 'Dopamine Dressing' or 'Bold Blazers' — don't exist. You tap on that killer floral jacket, but instead, you get redirected to 'similar' items you're not that into. That's a bummer.
Even when I found something I liked, I wanted to see myself in that exact item, not an approximation. Tewari says both direct item previews and better filtering are in the works. Right now, there's no way to search by style, brand or size.
Another issue? Some of the clothes just look… dated. I kept thinking, 'Wait, I had that exact Rugby shirt in 1996.' It's not just about matching an outfit to your body type — fashion needs to feel fresh. According to Tewari, better product feeds and more brand partnerships are on the way to address that issue as well.
And inclusivity is still lagging. The app doesn't yet work well for plus-size, non-binary or adaptive body types. That's not a minor bug — it's a must-fix.
That said, GlanceAI is more than a gimmick. It's fun to share with friends, and if they deliver the updates as promised, it will change the way we shop for clothes for good.
My suggestion? Try it, train it, and know this is how you're going to be doing most of your shopping in a year or two from now. A year ago, I barely used ChatGPT. Now I use it every day. So do 100 million other people. I could be writing the same thing about GlanceAI in a year from now.
Google Try-On: AI, but make it searchable
Google's latest entry into AI shopping lets you upload a full-length selfie and see how real clothes look on you. Not a stock model. Not an AI composite.
The feature lives inside Google Search Labs and is available for select brands like Levi's, Abercrombie, Quince and Pistola Denim. The realism is impressive. AI-generated images demonstrate how a shirt drapes on your shoulders and how pants fit your hips.
How it works: You search for an item — say, 'white linen blazer under $100' — then tap 'Try It On.' Upload a selfie, and Google overlays the item onto your image using generative AI. No extra app required.
Google's tools are powered by its massive Shopping Graph, which tracks more than 50 billion products and updates listings in real time. And Google says your photos stay on your device unless you opt to save or share them.
Where Google struggles
Here's the downside: Good luck figuring out which products actually let you try them on. There are no clear labels, no filters, no indicators — you just tap and hope. It's hit-or-miss, and that makes it frustrating.
I used it to buy a pair of Mother Jeans via Free People. The 'Try It On' icon just happened to be there when I went looking for this specific pair of pants. It was luck, not tech skill, that put us together.
It feels more like a promising tech demo than a reliable everyday feature.
GlanceAI vs. Google AI: What's the difference?
GlanceAI isn't perfect. Neither is Google. But they're both big steps forward in making online shopping better.Glance is more fun and styled. Google is more powerful and precise. Both are worth a try if you're tired of return labels and surprise crop tops.
They're different tools solving different parts of the same problem. Ideally, they'll converge.
Bonus tools to try
These two aren't alone. A few other tools in my smart shopping stack:
Beni: A browser extension that finds secondhand versions of what you're shopping for. That $180 blazer might be $60 on Poshmark.
Croissant: See your item's resale value before you buy it. A $250 bag? Croissant might tell you it'll resell for $100.
Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air contributor for "The Today Show.' The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her via Techish.com or @JennJolly on Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
23 minutes ago
- Newsweek
More Than Half Remote Staff Work a Side Hustle While on the Clock
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Companies have long held concerns about remote work, fearing productivity declines, disconnected workforces and worsened team culture. However, a new study reveals there might be another problem for employers: the majority of remote employees are using their time on the clock to earn extra income on the side, according to a new study. The LendingTree study discovered that 51 percent of remote workers are earning additional income while working their primary job, and 58 percent have considered doing so. Male remote workers were significantly more likely to work for additional income while at their remote jobs, at 58 percent versus 42 percent. Why It Matters The survey's revelations add to a growing body of research documenting how economic pressures, changing job structures, and evolving expectations are reshaping how and when Americans work. With many employees facing distractions, juggling caregiving, and saving money on commuting costs, remote work continues to redefine the boundaries of productivity and accountability. Remote work has become increasingly popular since the coronavirus pandemic. While it was first seen as a necessity to curb the spread of the virus, it now has a strong hold on the larger workforce, and many top talent will not consider a job without remote work as an option. Nearly all, or 95 percent, of working professionals want some type of remote work, and 63 percent said it is the most important aspect of their job, even more important than salary, according to a recent FlexJobs report. However, employers continue to have looming concerns regarding productivity. File photo of a remote employee working from his bedroom. File photo of a remote employee working from his bedroom. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images What To Know The LendingTree survey of 2,000 Americans, which included 450 remote workers, found there were many benefits to remote work on the employees' side. "One of the greatest appeals of remote work is the ability to have more flexibility within your own home," Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek. "However, that autonomy can lead some to go down the road of doing additional work, even for completely different professions, on the clock of their primary employer." Roughly 70 percent of remote workers reported getting more sleep, 66 percent felt more productive, and 90 percent said they had an improved work-life balance, according to the survey. However, remote workers were also likely to fear being let go if their company underwent layoffs, with 47 percent saying they were concerned about this. This may reflect the reality of today's workforce, as fully remote workers were 35 percent more likely to be laid off than in-office employees, according to a 2023 study by Live Data Technologies Inc. Even amid these fears, 45 percent of remote workers said they were opposed to returning to the office full-time, and 42 percent relocated after securing a remote job. What People Are Saying LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz said in the report: "It can be tempting to try to generate some extra income while working remotely, but it comes with real risk, too. Splitting your focus that way can make you less productive. That's dangerous any time, but especially in a time of significant economic uncertainty in which many companies are already looking for ways to get leaner and more efficient. The last thing you should do is keep secrets from your employer." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "As appealing as the notion may be, it's important to understand the ramifications could be dire and include you losing your current role and potentially dooming other employees to return to the office if the employer feels like violations of their policies may be widespread." What Happens Next Beene said that if more employees take advantage of their employers' offering remote work, it could lead to these types of positions being less available in the future. "Remote work is a job feature many employees would love to have," Beene said. "Trying to take advantage of it ensures there will be fewer of those opportunities in the future." A previous national survey collected by found that 33 percent of remote employees are working two or more jobs. The reasons cited include the rising cost of living and the relative ease of managing remote roles. "Remote workers are increasingly working multiple jobs due to the rising cost of living in recent years. Additionally, many remote roles are relatively easy to manage, allowing workers to take on additional jobs without a noticeable drop in productivity," Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group, previously told Newsweek.
USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
Tesla Robotaxis are already speeding, swerving lanes following late June launch, videos show
Tesla launched its Robotaxi service less than two weeks ago on June 22. Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is having a roller coaster of a year. The clean energy and electric vehicle company's share price plummeted by over 41% from January to April. It has since rebounded by over 42% from its yearly low of $221.86 a share to $315.65 a share as of July 2. One of the company's latest innovations is the Robotaxi, a fully autonomous Tesla electric vehicle that's able to transport passengers without any interactions or guidance from a driver. The Robotaxi is already under investigation by the United States for breaking the rules of the road, according to The Guardian. Tesla Robotaxis are already breaking rules after June launch Tesla has been able to accomplish amazing feats in terms of production, sales, and technological innovations over the years. That said, its CEO Elon Musk has developed a habit of making grandiose claims regarding the true capabilities of products and services. One example is the company's full-self driving software. The software was involved in at least one fatal crash, as reported by Bloomberg in June. Robotaxis are a much newer product than Tesla's full-self driving system. Since they operate without drivers, it's much easier to assign blame to the technology rather than the driver in instances of accidents or infractions. So far, Robotaxis have been seen violating traffic laws by crossing yellow lines and exceeding posted speed limits, according to a June 23 video description from Yahoo Finance. This is especially worrisome since the Tesla launched its Robotaxi service less than two weeks ago on June 22. How safe is a Robotaxi? It's too early to definitely answer whether or not Tesla's Robotaxi service is safe, but it's clear that riders have experienced some mishaps first-hand. These mishaps range from awkward driving style to clear infractions. So far, the Robotaxi service hasn't been involved in any serious or fatal accidents, but Americans have been compiling different incidents on Reddit. While the Robotaxi doesn't appear to be deadly (within the first few weeks of rollout) it's evident that the technology isn't infallible. Additionally, there are instances of the Robotaxi potentially damaging property including stopping so close to a parked vehicle that its tire directly contacted its body. The future of self-driving cars Companies like Tesla and Waymo (a subsidiary of Google's Alphabet Inc.) have invested big bucks into self-driving technology. Tesla was early to the semi-autonomous driving game and several automakers have since followed suit. That said, Tesla and Waymo are competing to make driverless vehicles ubiquitous, which could have serious repercussions for the jobs and safety of Americans. Self-driving taxi services pose a significant threat to traditional taxi services, according to the Brookings Institution, a research foundation in Washington D.C. Based on recent Robotaxi videos, the technology has a long way to go before becoming safe enough to deploy in more major cities.
The Verge
34 minutes ago
- The Verge
Here are the letters that convinced Google and Apple to keep TikTok online
A Freedom of Information Act request has produced letters that the US Department of Justice sent to Google, Apple, Amazon, and several other companies in order to assuage their concerns about breaking a law that banned US web services from working with TikTok. The documents — obtained by Zhaocheng Anthony Tan, a Google shareholder who sued for their release earlier this year — show Attorney General Pam Bondi and her predecessor Acting Attorney General James McHenry III promising to release companies from responsibility for violating the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which required US companies to ban TikTok from app stores and other platforms or face hundreds of billions of dollars in fines. The law was intended to force a sale of TikTok from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, due to national security concerns. Additionally, the letters say the Justice Department will step in to prevent anyone else from attempting to enforce penalties, a promise that includes filing amicus briefs or 'intervening in litigation.' McHenry apparently sent the first round of letters on January 30th, ten days after Trump signed an executive order delaying enforcement of the law, which took effect the day before his inauguration. A series of follow-up letters were sent by Bondi, including a round dated April 5th, just after Trump extended the delay on enforcing the law to mid-June. The letters' existence was known, but until now, their text had not been released. The full list of recipients includes the operators of app stores, cloud hosting services, and more: Trump has since issued a third extension, which expires in mid-September, while promising a sale of TikTok by ByteDance to a non-Chinese owner remains underway. It is unclear whether any of the orders have a valid basis in law.
