Unilever is transforming itself into an AI-first organization by embedding artificial intelligence across its entire value chain, from product development and manufacturing to marketing and commerce. According to the company's leadership, AI has become one of the core pillars of its business transformation strategy, helping the consumer goods giant generate demand faster, turn data into actionable insights, and respond more quickly to changing consumer preferences.
A major focus is innovation and manufacturing. Unilever is investing $270 million in a new AI-powered innovation center in the United States and is expanding the use of AI-enabled digital twins across its global factory network. These virtual replicas of production systems help optimize ingredients, reduce energy consumption, improve product quality, and increase manufacturing efficiency. In some facilities, the technology has already contributed to significant productivity gains.
The company is also reinventing marketing and commerce through AI. By analyzing consumer behavior, social media trends, and campaign performance in real time, Unilever can create and optimize content much faster than traditional methods allow. AI is helping brands such as Dove tailor campaigns, improve audience engagement, and accelerate decision-making. At the same time, the company is preparing for a future where AI increasingly influences how consumers discover, compare, and purchase products online.
To support this transformation, Unilever is building an AI-first digital backbone through major cloud and data partnerships while investing heavily in employee training. More than 40,000 employees have already received AI training, reflecting the company's belief that technology alone is not enough. Unilever sees the combination of advanced AI, strong governance, trusted data, and a skilled workforce as the foundation for creating a scalable and sustainable AI-first enterprise.
