A new technological advancement has emerged, which some are hailing as a new singularity, but not in the way that was previously predicted. Rather than robots taking over the world, the latest leap in technology involves artificial intelligence (AI) generating images of women to appeal to straight men.
These AI-generated images are made to look like real photographs, with some individuals being fooled into thinking they are pictures of actual women. However, the images are actually collages of real faces and bodies previously fed into the AI to teach it what an attractive woman is supposed to look like. While the images may be visually appealing, they are not without their problems. For one, the "ideal" presented is often exclusively white, thin, and lacking in sexual agency or a sense of female pleasure beyond the desire to please straight men.
There are concerns about the psychological impact of constantly bombarding individuals with a narrow, highly sexualized version of what it means to be an attractive woman. However, it is important to note that new technological developments have historically been met with moral panics that are not always justified. While there are certainly problematic elements to the use of AI-generated images in pornography and elsewhere, it remains to be seen how these technologies will ultimately affect our lives and relationships.
As we move forward, it will be important to ensure that the continued use of AI-generated images does not perpetuate harmful societal norms or reinforce negative attitudes towards women. Rather than simply accepting these images as a new norm, it will be necessary to critically examine their impact and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable world.