Unilever is increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the way it develops new beauty and personal care products. The company is using AI, automation, and machine learning to make research and product development faster, more efficient, and more competitive.
Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing division is one of the company’s important areas for future growth. The division includes well-known brands such as Dove, Vaseline, Dermalogica, and Nutrafol. It generated around EUR 12.8 billion in revenue by 2025, highlighting its importance to Unilever’s overall business.
The company is using AI across different stages of product development. These technologies help teams analyze information, test ideas, improve formulations, and speed up decision-making. As a result, processes that previously took several days can now be completed much faster.
One major improvement has been seen in product formulation. According to the company, formulation cycles that once took five or six days have been reduced to just one or two days. This allows researchers and product teams to test and improve products more quickly.
AI is also helping Unilever reduce the time needed to turn an initial idea into a finished product. The company has reported a 75% improvement in the time required for generating product claims. Faster processes can help Unilever respond more quickly to changing consumer preferences and new trends in the beauty market.
The use of AI could also allow employees to spend more time on creative and strategic work instead of repetitive tasks. By combining human expertise with advanced technology, Unilever aims to develop products more efficiently while maintaining quality.
As competition in the global beauty and personal care market continues to increase, technology is becoming an important tool for major companies. Unilever’s growing use of AI shows how traditional consumer goods businesses are adopting new technologies to accelerate innovation and support long-term growth.