# Shopping Smarter: Phoebe Gates Launches AI-Powered App, Phia, to Help You Find the Best Deals on Fashion

## Shopping Smarter: Phoebe Gates Launches AI-Powered App, Phia, to Help You Find the Best Deals on Fashion

Phoebe Gates, daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates, is stepping into the world of tech with a new AI-powered shopping app called Phia. Co-founded with her former roommate, Sophia Kianni, Phia aims to revolutionize the way we shop for clothes, shoes, and accessories by making price comparison a breeze. The app is available for iOS devices and as a browser extension for Google Chrome, promising to help users snag the best deals, both new and secondhand.

So, how does it work? Once installed, a “Should I Buy This?” button conveniently appears on product pages. By clicking this button, Phia springs into action, scouring the web to compare prices from various retailers, including listings for both new and used items. The app then provides an assessment of whether the price is high, low, or typical for that particular item.

In a real-world test conducted by The Verge, Phia was put to the test with a Louis Vuitton Graceful PM bag priced at $1,950. Phia deemed the price “worth it” and promptly presented secondhand options from platforms like Fashionphile and eBay, with prices starting at a more palatable $1,453. The app also provided a direct link to Phia’s website, showcasing similar, more affordable secondhand bags available online.

Phia leverages AI to analyze current market trends and compare them against a vast database of over 250 million used goods from popular sites such as The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, ThredUp, StockX, eBay, and Poshmark. This allows it to provide comprehensive price comparisons and insights into the value of items.

While Phia isn’t the only price comparison app on the market, with competitors like Capital One Shopping, Rakuten, and Honey (the latter of which has faced accusations of misleading practices), it distinguishes itself by focusing specifically on fashion and emphasizing the benefits of thrifting. By prioritizing sustainable shopping and providing access to a wide range of pre-owned options, Phia aims to empower consumers to make more informed and eco-conscious purchasing decisions. Whether it will successfully carve out its niche in the crowded shopping app landscape remains to be seen, but Phia’s focus on fashion and thrifting gives it a unique selling proposition.