What: Ask Ralph, an AI-powered styling companion from Ralph Lauren and Microsoft, delivers personalised, conversational shopping experiences through the Ralph Lauren app.

Why it is important: The integration of conversational AI and real-time inventory management sets a new standard for operational efficiency and customer engagement in retail.

Ask Ralph marks a significant evolution in retail by merging Ralph Lauren’s iconic brand experience with Microsoft’s advanced AI capabilities. This conversational AI tool, available in the Ralph Lauren app, acts as a digital stylist, responding to natural language prompts and offering curated, visually engaging outfit recommendations based on real-time inventory. The system’s ability to interpret open-ended queries and deliver personalised, shoppable looks reflects a broader industry trend toward hyper-personalisation and immersive digital experiences. By leveraging Azure’s agentic AI, Ask Ralph not only enhances product discovery but also inspires consumers, bridging the gap between online and in-store service. This initiative builds on Ralph Lauren’s legacy of retail innovation and underscores the brand’s commitment to customer-centricity. As the platform evolves, it is poised to expand across markets and brands, further embedding AI-driven inspiration and efficiency into the shopping journey.

IADS Notes: Ask Ralph’s launch highlights the retail sector’s rapid adoption of conversational and agentic AI, echoing recent trends where leading brands like Walmart and Saks Fifth Avenue use AI partnerships to deliver personalised, immersive experiences. This shift is driving both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency, with agentic AI enabling real-time recommendations and improved inventory management. For legacy brands, such innovations are now essential to remain competitive in an increasingly data-driven retail landscape.

Ask Ralph: Where style meets AI—a new era of conversational commerce