AI is the driving force behind some of the world’s most ground-breaking technological innovations, and this includes ‘Augmented Reality’ and ‘Virtual Reality’. These are often referred to as ‘AR’ and ‘VR’, and they give marketers the chance to captivate audiences through immersive experiences, that offer new levels of engagement and interaction. The main difference between AR and VR is the extent to which a user is immersed in these digital worlds.

AR usually requires a smartphone camera, which can blend digital content with your actual environment by overlaying text, images, and 3D models onto the world around you. VR, on the other hand, is a fully immersive experience, which usually requires a headset or other specialized device. Users are placed into a completely virtual world, where they can take part in simulated scenarios and engage with computer-generated environments.

VR is perfect for gaming, training simulations, or just for exploring places that only exist in the digital realm. It can be an exciting way to engage audiences, but for marketing purposes, it’s generally much more time-consuming and expensive than using AR. There’s also the fact that AR is often more convenient, because most people have access to a smartphone, which can be used both in-store and at home.

A good example of AR in action comes from IKEA, a company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture. It designed an AR-based app called ‘IKEA Kreativ’, which allows users to see how different products might look in their homes.

Using the app, shoppers can take a series of photos of their chosen room. AI technology then analyzes those images to generate an interactive replica of the space. Shoppers can then use the app’s AR capabilities to get creative, by removing existing furniture, adding in IKEA products, and trying out different options until they’ve designed their ideal space. They can add products to their cart, save their designs to their IKEA account for later, and even share them with friends and family.

So, combining AI’s capabilities with AR and VR gives marketers the chance to engage audiences through more immersive and personalized experiences. But of course, these trends won’t necessarily be accessible to all businesses, so you’ll need to assess how well they suit your brand’s needs and whether you have the budget to implement them.

Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR)

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