We recently learned the result of Miss AI, the first beauty contest for artificial intelligence (AI), won by Moroccan virtual influencer Kenza Layli, supported by the company Phoenix AI, created by Myriam Bessa. Beyond the dystopian nature of this initiative, let’s first return to the context of this competition which actually rewards the companies behind these AIs.
In other words, it should be noted that, behind the three criteria evaluated – the physical appearance of these “fictitious women”, the degree of relevant use of AI to generate these virtual “models”, the influence of the latter on their community and social networks – we are in reality judging the degree of innovation developed by these companies, in a world that now seems increasingly governed by appearance.
This competition, organized in partnership with Fanvue, a competing platform of MYM or OnlyFans, leaves room for significant abuses, since some of these new virtual beauty references are indeed thriving on different platforms, including Patreon, where adult content is offered.
The risk behind this type of practice is that we democratize a certain image of women and, thus, that we normalize their instrumentalization, to the benefit of the companies at the origin of these AIs. In addition, this pushes society to go backwards in terms of the advancement of women’s conditions, to the extent that this can have serious repercussions on a large part of the population.
Moreover, this search for physical perfection undeniably leads young women, and now young men with the introduction of male models generated by AI on social networks, to experience a feeling of frustration with their physique, victims of what comes close to “aesthetic democracy”, to use the words of the philosopher Umberto Eco.
Standardization
So, should these beauty standards, in a world constantly seeking perfection that only exists virtually, through flawless skin or a slim waist in all circumstances, be put forward? Should we legitimize the companies behind these AIs that, through their activities, aim to normalize beauty standards that ultimately do not exist in reality?
Although questions surrounding beauty or beauty have been addressed for several centuries, as evidenced for example Feast Plato’s view, the latter seeing the appreciation of physical beauty as a preliminary step to the contemplation of the idea of Beauty, these are questions that deserve to be discussed, given the harmful consequences of stereotypes on the development of the most vulnerable people.
On this point, the Quebec government reminds us as a precaution that: “By promoting a single model of beauty, these images can cause several psychological, physiological and relational problems for young people. Even if girls and boys are affected differently, the main consequence is the same: dissatisfaction with their appearance.”
Let us also point out that two of the members of the jury of this competition are artificial intelligences and, when we know that beauty is ultimately a subjective criterion that can vary from one individual to another, from one culture to another, from one country to another, then we can ask ourselves the following question: how can an AI judge beauty?
The exercise is interesting, but we must closely monitor the practices of the technology companies at the heart of this dynamic, because this is a key issue in the development of young adults in search of role models.
In short, while it is important to point out technological risks, AI systems could also have been used to demystify certain unrealistic beauty standards, by highlighting a vision closer to traditional standards. We should not overlook the fact that AI can, in many ways, allow us to improve society rather than degrade it.