The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in daily life is undeniable, as it now extends far beyond the realms of science fiction movies. With AI powering virtual assistants and internet tools that can generate images and text, its imprint on our lifestyles is here to stay. Markedly, AI-developed influencers have started to gather throngs of followers, some unable to distinguish them from real humans. An example of such an AI influencer is Aitana López, a Spanish model impeccably created by AI with an audience exceeding 300,000 on social media, courtesy of ‘The Clueless’ company, generating revenue of up to €12,000 monthly.
Breaking new ground in the universe of AI is Miss AI, the inaugural beauty pageant for AI-generated models orchestrated by The World AI Creator Awards. Not only will the aesthetic appeal of the AI models be judged, but also their social media success and the technological innovation behind their creation. Significantly, Aitana López stands as part of the contest’s jury panel.
The hosting platform has voiced to RTVE their goal for Miss AI, which is not to perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards but to celebrate AI-generated artistry, emphasizing inclusivity as a step forward. Plans for creating a male version of the contest are underway, despite the lack of details surrounding the delay.
Lucía Ortiz de Zárate, a researcher specializing in AI Ethics and Governance, communicates to RTVE the harmful potential of reinforcing hypersexualized female stereotypes through such content. She reminds us that AI, as a human product, mirrors existing societal biases and prejudices. The troubling tendency to produce representations of women that are hypersexualized, young, normative, slim, and fair-skinned draws concerns. The environmental toll of AI imagery production leads to questioning the legitimacy of its application toward damaging purposes.
Experts point out that AI’s ability to craft believable online identities including voices and interaction, particularly those that are hypersexualized representations of women, may engender real-life aesthetic violence. Furthermore, the increasing use of AI in pornography reinforces detrimental stereotypes, potentially exacerbating violent practices.
AI beauty contests are reflecting societal norms and potential biases inherent in their programming, introducing a contentious discussion on the evolving role of AI in the domain of beauty and aesthetics. These contests showcase the power of AI in creating visually appealing digital personas—models that can engage followers on social media platforms just like human influencers.
Underneath the surface of these AI-driven beauty pageants, there lies a web of ethical concerns and societal implications. For instance, researchers highlight the potential of AI to exacerbate existing discrimination and inequality. This is due to the fact that AI systems, including those used in beauty algorithms, often learn from historical data that contains human biases.
One of the key challenges is ensuring that AI beauty contests do not reinforce harmful gender norms and beauty standards. AI models are typically designed to reflect idealized human features, but these standards are not universal and can marginalize individuals who do not conform to them.
A notable controversy is the environmental impact of AI technologies. The computational power required to generate and maintain AI personas, including those that participate in beauty contests, consumes significant energy. This is contributing to the already pressing issue of the carbon footprint of digital technologies.
The advantages of AI beauty contests include the celebration of technological advancements and the potential for new forms of art and expression. They offer an innovative platform for showcasing the capabilities of AI-generated imagery and design.
The disadvantages, however, include the promotion of narrow beauty ideals, the risk of normalizing unrealistic human features, and potential contribution to unhealthy societal expectations regarding body image. Moreover, they raise questions about the responsible use of AI and the broader impacts on human labor markets and creative industries.
For anyone interested in further reading about AI and its societal implications, Electronic Frontier Foundation and American Civil Liberties Union websites offer extensive resources on AI ethics and the social impact of emerging technologies. Additionally, groups like the AI Now Institute focus specifically on the social implications of AI, offering research and analysis that can complement the understanding of AI beauty contests and their broader implications.