The ‘Vogue' AI model backlash isn't dying down anytime soon
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AI -generated 'models' have now made their way into the hallowed pages of Vogue.
In the August print edition of Vogue, a Guess advertisement features an almost-too-perfect model wearing a striped dress and a floral playsuit from the brand's summer collection. In very small print, it notes that she was created using AI.
While Vogue states the AI model was not an editorial decision, the fashion magazine has still faced considerable backlash online. Some critics have gone so far as to call it the 'downfall of Vogue.'
Although the AI-generated model appeared in an ad campaign rather than a fashion editorial, for many, that's beside the point. 'Note to publications doing things like this: it makes you look cheap and chintzy, lazy and hasty, desperate and struggling,' another user wrote.
This isn't the first time an AI model has appeared in Vogue. The June 2024 Vogue Portugal issue featured an AI-generated model on its cover, while the May 2023 edition of Vogue Italia used AI to create the background of a cover starring Bella Hadid.
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in our daily lives and workflows, it's now infiltrating both digital and even analog media. Fast Company previously reported that one in three Gen Z consumers now make purchasing decisions based on recommendations from AI-generated influencers, according to research from Whop, a marketplace for digital products. Could the same apply to AI-generated models?
Seraphinne Vallora, the company behind the ad, created the AI model after being approached by Paul Marciano, Guess's co-founder, via Instagram DMs. Their Instagram page, which has over 225,000 followers, features hundreds of similar AI-generated supermodels—all conforming to the same Eurocentric beauty standards, devoid of human flaws or unique features.
The founders told the BBC they've attempted to feature more diverse models, but those posts failed to gain traction. (Fast Company has reached out to Vogue, Guess, and Seraphinne Vallora for comment.)
As one X user wrote, 'as if beauty standards haven't become unrealistic enough, now girls will be competing with and comparing themselves to women who aren't even real. incredible work everyone.'
The early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, September 5, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
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(30,187 ) (30,099 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (37,107 ) 89,491 45,269 62,701 2,839 Deferred expenses 27,503 (1,757 ) (5,580 ) 23,582 (10,626 ) Other assets (9,449 ) (6,400 ) 514 (16,928 ) (4,952 ) Accounts payable (4,407 ) 13,806 (5,444 ) 40,544 17,871 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 12,532 (65,685 ) 50,477 (7,613 ) 48,593 Deferred revenue (171,331 ) 230,283 (60,635 ) 117,288 12,009 Other liabilities (296 ) 2,182 (1,534 ) (8,888 ) 9,136 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (138,343 ) 269,575 50,384 336,259 41,306 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment and capitalization of internal use software development costs (14,867 ) (20,560 ) (17,143 ) (42,784 ) (23,007 ) Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities — — 50,000 — 340,000 Purchases of marketable securities — — — — (48,660 ) Acquisitions of strategic investments (24,233 ) — (66,489 ) (42,225 ) (66,489 ) Cash paid for business acquisitions — (200,000 ) — (200,000 ) — Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (39,100 ) (220,560 ) (33,632 ) (285,009 ) 201,844 Cash flows from financing activities: Payment for taxes related to net share settlement of stock-based compensation awards — — — (3,012 ) (3,181 ) Net proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan — 3,233 — 3,233 3,435 Distributions to or on behalf of Symbotic Holdings LLC partners 57 (382 ) (47,654 ) (1,175 ) (47,654 ) Proceeds from issuance of Class A Common Stock — — — — 257,985 Proceeds from exercise of warrants — — 2 — 158,704 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 57 2,851 (47,652 ) (954 ) 369,289 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 24 50 (10 ) (10 ) (25 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (177,362 ) 51,916 (30,910 ) 50,286 612,414 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - beginning of period 958,002 906,086 904,242 730,354 260,918 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Duolingo raises 2025 revenue forecast as AI tools boost user engagement
By Akash Sriram (Reuters) -Language-learning app Duolingo raised its annual revenue forecast and beat second-quarter revenue estimates on Wednesday, anticipating broader adoption of its AI-enhanced subscription tier among its global user base. The company's shares rose about 20% in trading after the bell. Duolingo operates on a freemium model, offering basic language-learning features for free while providing premium capabilities through monthly or annual paid subscriptions. The company now expects revenue for 2025 to be in the range of $1.01 billion to $1.02 billion, compared to analysts' estimates of $996.6 million. It had earlier projected revenue between $987 million and $996 million for the year. Revenue in the April-June period was $252.3 million, compared with analysts' estimates of $240.7 million. Duolingo's two subscription tiers — Super, designed for frequent learners, and Max, tailored for advanced users — include AI-driven features such as video-call conversation practice with chatbots, personalized error analysis and enhanced feedback tools. Since launching an AI-powered video-call tool for Android in January, Duolingo has expanded the feature to additional languages, aiming to boost subscription growth by enabling users to practice natural conversations across a broader linguistic range. Duolingo's gross margin benefited this quarter from lower-than-expected AI costs, as the decline in margin from expanding Max and AI features was much smaller than the company had originally expected. "The cost of calling AI tools has come down a lot. Ads also did better; ads are not a big part of our business, but it turned out that it helped margin a little bit as well," CFO Matt Skaruppa told Reuters. Duolingo leverages generative AI to create and personalize bite-sized lessons across more than 100 language courses. In April, CEO Luis von Ahn said that after taking 12 years to develop the first 100 courses, the company's AI tools helped it introduce 148 new courses in roughly one year. Duolingo expects revenue for the third quarter to be in the range of $257 million to $261 million, compared to analysts' estimates of $253 million, according to data compiled by LSEG. The firm also forecast an adjusted core profit of $288.1 million to $295.5 million for 2025. Sign in to access your portfolio
