L’Oréal, the global personal care company is leveraging generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology to uncover new insights in cosmetic formulation data, facilitating the use of sustainable raw materials, for energy and material waste reductions.
The firm has partnered IBM to develop a custom AI foundation model engineered to significantly increase the ability of L’Oréal Research & Innovation teams to reach extra performance and consumer satisfaction in every cosmetic category.
Stéphane Ortiz, head of L’Oréal's Research & Innovation Métiers & Product Development said the collaboration will extend the speed and scale of L’Oréal's innovation and reformulation pipeline, with products achieving higher standards of inclusivity, sustainability, and personalisation.
The company with 20 research centres across 11 countries and a broad portfolio of 37 international brands, aimed to rethink and redesign the formulation discovery process.
It worked on the new AI model to leverage a vast array of formulations and component data to streamline various tasks, such as developing new products, reformulating existing cosmetics, and optimising production for scaling up.
Understanding the behaviours of renewable ingredients in cosmetic formulas will help L’Oréal build out more sustainable product lines with inclusivity and personalisation for its consumers.
L’Oréal' said such foundation models are a type of AI model trained on a broad set of unlabeled data, capable of performing various tasks and applying information from one situation to another.
The team hopes these tools will enhance the capabilities of its 4,000 researchers in the coming years.
These models have significantly advanced the field of natural language processing (NLP) technology over the past several years, and IBM is pioneering applications of foundation models beyond language, in areas such as chemistry, time series and geospatial modalities, Ortiz said.
L'Oréal has continued to expand its use of AI and digital technologies, particularly focusing on enhancing customer experience, accelerating product innovation, and driving sustainability.
Recently in late 2024, the company introduced an advanced version of its AI-powered beauty tech platform, which offers personalised skincare and makeup solutions. The platform integrates AI algorithms to analyse consumers' skin types, preferences, and individual needs, providing tailored product recommendations.
