Ebay has launched a new AI-powered feature to help sellers create high-quality images for their listings by removing the backdrop of existing photos and then seamlessly adding new AI-generated backdrops.
The company has various backgrounds available to convey a multitude of scenes and “vibes,” such as the rugged outdoors, tabletop scenes and even minimal studio backdrops. Sellers in the U.S., UK and Germany can access the new tool using the Ebay mobile app for iOS and Android. The feature will gradually roll out to Android over the coming months, with Ebay collecting feedback from users and improving the feature over time. It is powered by open source deep learning and Stable Diffusion, and is enhanced using Ebay’s anonymous data and infrastructure.
“Quality images are a key ingredient of a successful product listing, and result in a faster sale,” the company said in a blog. “But taking well-lit, professional-looking product photographs can be expensive, time-consuming, and cumbersome. Background enhancement makes it simple for sellers to create beautiful listings that reflect their brand and style, while giving buyers a more appealing, distraction-free look.”
A Long-Term Focus on AI
Background enhancement is the latest in a growing suite of features from Ebay designed to use AI to simplify and enhance the listing and shopping experience. Last fall, the company released a “magical” listing tool to automate the listing process, as well as a tool that creates AI-generated social media posts so sellers can easily promote their items across platforms.
“We are using AI to help our sellers accomplish their listings more seamlessly, faster, and with higher quality,” said VP of Seller Experience Xiaodi Zhang. “Our sellers’ time is valuable, and we want to ensure our tools allow them to meet their listing goals and drive more sales.”
Ebay’s Responsible AI team helped develop the background enhancement tool to ensure it streamlined the creative process without misrepresenting items and their condition. Sellers are encouraged to check the accuracy of images while using the tool and to be transparent about when and how they use AI.
