Google Pay adds Discover tab with virtual clothes try-on in India

Google has started testing a new Discover tab inside Google Pay, its UPI payments app, that lets users browse fashion and apparel products. The feature is reaching only a small group of users in India for now. Users who get access can see how some clothing items would look on them before they buy.

The tab shows a curated feed of clothing and lifestyle products based on each user's preferences. Google said the feed draws on its Shopping Graph, a product catalogue of more than 60 billion items. It also includes relevant YouTube videos, based on what Google calls "consented Google activities".

From an individual product listing, users can use virtual try-on to see how select clothing items look and hang on them. Users can also upload an image or scan a product with their camera to find similar items online. When they decide to buy, they are sent to the retailer's site to complete the purchase.

A pilot with more to come

Google said the experience is powered by Google AI and is in a pilot phase to gather user feedback. Google has said that daily pre-generated outfit ideas and outfit suggestions will come later. Google has urged users to update Google Pay to the latest version to check whether the feature has reached their account.

The feature also depends on specific Google account activity settings being switched on. Google has not said how many users are part of the pilot or when the tab will be available more widely.

For Indian users, the change means Google Pay is moving beyond bill payments and money transfers into shopping discovery. Users who see the tab will be able to browse and try on clothes without leaving the app, though purchases still happen on other retailers' sites.