Google Acquires Visual Search Engine Like.com

Google has acquired visual search engine and eCommerce site Like.com for approximately 100 million dollars.

Google buys visual search Like.com

Founded in 2004, Like.com is a visual search engine that uses computer vision and machine learning technology to help users match shoes, clothes, jewelry and decor online and purchase them from retailers.

The user indicates the searched product and only details color, style, price, brand, etc. Like.com then offers imaged results matching the query. Links are provided so that the user can directly buy the product.

The idea is to help users find a product without having to know the brand or model, but simply mentioning a detail (color, shape, material).

Like.com also owns virtual fashion studio Couturious.com and Covet.com, as well as online personal shopper for fashion products.

Visual search to be integrated into Google's products?

Visual search is an area that Google is trying to dominate with its Android application called Google Goggles. Goggles allows users to snap a picture of any object and send it to Google's servers to identify the object and display relevant searches related to the item in question. 

Analysts say Like.com's technology could be applied to the Internet giant's product search, or commerce search engine. Google may also integrate visual search into ads.

In 2005, Google failed to acquire Riya, a company specialized in image facial recognition and tagging for consumers. However, latest April Google bought visual art search engine Plink. This technology is now being used to fortify Google Goggles.