Dunelm has launched an AI-powered shopping assistant that allows customers to search for products, receive recommendations and visualise items in their homes through natural conversation.

The company’s new ‘Ask Dunelm’ tool is now available within its iOS app and has been developed in partnership with Google Cloud.

Customers can use the assistant to describe what they are looking for in their own words, ask questions about products and receive suggestions tailored to their style, budget and requirements.

The tool can also help shoppers plan an entire room, find a specific item or explore homeware inspiration without relying on traditional keyword searches.

Dunelm said it was among the first UK retailers to launch a multimodal shopping agent using Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience technology.

Dunelm steps up digital investment

The launch follows the introduction of Dunelm’s customer app earlier this year, which has now been downloaded by more than 500,000 shoppers.

The app includes personalised product recommendations, Click & Collect integration, detailed product information and features designed to support customers while shopping in stores.

Dunelm said Ask Dunelm was the first of several new enhancements planned for the platform.

Chief technology and information officer John Gahagan said: “Ask Dunelm represents a significant step up in how customers can discover our products, allowing them to shop through natural conversation rather than traditional search methods.

“Customers increasingly expect digital experiences that are intuitive and tailored to their needs.

“By combining our deep understanding of home and customer preferences with Google Cloud’s AI capabilities, we’ve created a tool that can help customers navigate choices, find inspiration and confidently create homes they love.”

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