Artificial intelligence (AI) is now being used to detect whether secondhand luxury items are authentic or fake. Tech company Entrupy has developed a device that can authenticate handbags from brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel. The AI authenticator has gained renewed interest as businesses seek to capitalize on the AI hype.
Entrupy, founded in 2012, claims that its AI technology has been used by hundreds of vintage resellers as of December 2020. Currently, the tool is only available to resellers of luxury goods. It can authenticate products from brands such as Balenciaga, Burberry, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. By using AI, luxury resellers can build trust with customers who may be wary of purchasing counterfeit products.
The purpose of the AI authentication tool is to add trust and provide verification as a third party, according to Entrupy's CEO, Vidyuth Srinivasan. It allows consumers to have certainty that the product is authentic, as there is an independent certification from a third party involved in the transaction.
To use the AI-powered authenticator, users must take photos of the product from every possible angle using Entrupy's hardware device. The device has a microscopic lens that can magnify the phone camera, allowing for granular photos of features like the product's designer plaque and material. These photos are then cross-referenced with a database of millions of pictures of authentic inventory using an AI algorithm. Within minutes, Entrupy can determine whether the product is real or not, claiming a 99.1% accuracy rate.
However, the AI authentication tool has limitations. It can currently only authenticate major brands, as they are the ones most prone to being fraudulent. Entrupy did not respond to requests for comment.
In addition to the AI-powered authenticator, other AI hardware devices are gaining attention. Meta recently launched the second version of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which feature a built-in AI assistant. Humane.ai also introduced its AI pin, which can project information onto a user's palm through light.
As the demand for authentic luxury items grows and the AI hype continues, Entrupy's AI authentication tool offers a potential solution for resellers and customers alike. Its accuracy rate and third-party certification provide assurance in the authenticity of secondhand luxury goods.