Facebook snaps up AI shopping startup in eCommerce push

GrokStyle had clients including Ikea on its roster

Facebook has bought AI furniture shopping startup GrokStyle, as the social network continues to broaden its technology with greater focus on artificial intelligence and eCommerce.

The San Francisco-based company, which was founded in 2015, developed technology that allows consumers to take a photo of furniture and uses AI to identify similar products available online.

Ikea is one of GrokStyle’s notable clients, who integrated the feature in their AR app.

“We are excited to welcome GrokStyle to Facebook,” a Facebook spokeswoman said.

“Their team and technology will contribute to our AI capabilities.”

In a post on its website, GrokStyle said it had been an “exciting journey” for the startup and they were “looking forward to what is ahead”.

“Our team and technology will live on, and we will continue using our AI to build great visual search experiences for retail,” the site reads.

“As part of this next chapter, we are winding down our business.”

According to the startup’s LinkedIn page, between two and ten people work at GrokStyle.

Facebook has acquired a number of AI specialist startups over the years.

In 2018, it bought out London-based Bloomsbury AI, which builds tools to help tackle fake news.