AI Images in Business

This week, Nano Banana made headlines.

Sure, it is more advanced with the editing options and how it can replace ‘Photoshop’ skills …and that gives us a chance to talk about AI and image generation while the interest is hot.

Today, we will explore how top companies use AI images to improve marketing, prototyping, and customer service.

With the Global AI image generation market projected to reach 60.8–63.3 billion USD by 2030, let us look at where companies have traditionally spent their money.

In 2023, Coca-Cola launched the “Create Real Magic” campaign in collaboration with Dall-E and OpenAI. It invited digital artists across the world to imagine Coca-Cola as they see it.

Over 120,000+ artworks were created, and the brand engagement led to 5% increase in net revenue in the quarter following the campaign’s launch.

Nutella launched the “Nutella Unica” campaign in Italy, using an AI algorithm to generate 7 million uniquely designed jar labels, making each jar different from the next. The exclusivity and ‘collectable’ nature of the designs drove massive demand, selling all 7 million jars in less than 30 days.

While these are one-time campaigns aimed at creating spikes in branding and revenue, brands like Zara, Agoda, Kraft Heinz, WPP, etc., take a more sustainable, long-term approach with AI images.

They have replaced the need for agencies and dropped costs by 70% and brought down idea-to-campaign cycles from weeks to days.

Product teams are using AI to visualize concepts, test design variations, and create prototypes to ‘see’ before they build.

This helps them iterate faster on models before committing to manufacturing.

BMW creates detailed interior and exterior design concepts before building physical prototypes. Their designers generate hundreds of variations of dashboard layouts, seat configurations, and exterior styling in weeks instead of months. This visual iteration process cuts their early-stage design costs and accelerates concept approval.

Nike does the same for new sneaker releases. It reduces prototype costs and responds quickly to trends. Their design teams ship seasonal collections 3x faster than traditional processes.

Tech/design products like Canva test hundreds of design variations with users before investing in full development, leading to higher user engagement on new template releases.

Brands also use AI images to help customers visualize products in their own environments.

This visual approach reduces purchase hesitation and increases conversion rates significantly.

IKEA shows customers how furniture will look in their actual rooms. Instead of relying on generic showroom photos, they generate images of products in customer-uploaded spaces. Visual products generated 189% more conversions than non-visual ones.

More brands that provide personalized context with AI images: L’Oreal, Sephora, Warby Parker, Home Depot, Ray-Ban, etc.

Investor Nikunj Kothari recently mentioned, “AI has actually made most uninvestable industries investable.”

Meaning:

If you’re in a leadership role in a company with a large catalogue, data, or multiple ICPs, there’s no better time to optimise your workflows and the experience for customers. Especially if it is not a tech-first company.

YOUR TURN