L’Oréal has partnered with IBM to create sustainable cosmetic formulations with generative artificial intelligence (AI).
The French beauty giant will leverage the multinational company’s GenAI technology to uncover new insights into cosmetic formulation data, facilitating its use of sustainable raw materials for energy and material waste reductions.
At the heart of the partnership is the creation of a custom AI foundation model, which will help L'Oréal’s Research & Innovation teams to create high-performing products that meet consumer expectations and advance sustainability goals.
The AI model will use a large number of component data points to better understand the behaviour of renewable ingredients in formulations and accelerate multiple tasks to be performed by L'Oréal’s 4,000 researchers worldwide.
This includes the formulation of new products, reformulation of existing cosmetics and the optimisation for scale-up production, with the aim to build more sustainable product lines with greater inclusivity and personalisation.
Both companies claimed the model is a “first-of-its-kind” in the industry, “redefining AI innovation at the intersection of beauty, chemistry and technology,” read a joint statement.
Stéphane Ortiz, Head of Innovation Métiers & Product Development, L'Oréal Research & Innovation, said: "As part of our Digital Transformation Program, this partnership will extend the speed and scale of our innovation and reformulation pipeline.
“With products always reaching higher standards of inclusivity, sustainability and personalisation.”
L’Oréal said the partnership will also aid the company in meeting its target of sourcing most of its product formulas based on bio-sourced materials and/or the circular economy by 2030.
"This collaboration is a truly impactful application of generative AI, leveraging the power of technology and expertise for the good of the planet,” said Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow, VP Europe and Africa, and Director IBM Research Zurich.
"Using IBM's latest AI technology, L'Oréal will be able to derive meaningful insights from their rich formula and product data to create a tailored AI model to help achieve their operational goals, and continue creating high-quality and sustainable products."
L’Oréal recently unveiled a new device which it claims can “predict” skin issues before they become visible.