Vogue Embraced AI Models: Why The Rest of Us Are Craving Authenticity
Is Microblogging on the rise?
It's 2025 and AI is pretty inescapable at this point.
It seems like just yesterday Chat GPT premiered and we were curiously using it for business advice, recipe building, and quick research before realizing the environmental ramifications of adding a "hello" and "thank you."
Since then we've gotten AI pet videos, fake trailers for movies, deep fakes, you name it. Blink twice and you’ve missed some new application of it. And if you're not careful, it'll have you gasping at some pet video while your friends laugh and see how long it takes for you to realize it's not real. I'm a Zennial, and this era even has me admitting how exhausting it is to stay up-to-date and media savvy.
The latest news in this uncanny reality?
Vogue's August issue will feature AI models on its pages, and it has some readers cancelling their subscriptions. The AI-generated models are interspersed between images of real models. Some of the old, some of the new. Testing the waters maybe.
Critics are bringing up valid concerns regarding this erasure of human artistry and unrealistic beauty standards. Hair and makeup artists? Gone. Fashion designers? Didn't even make it to the office. Models ready to shine their authentic beauty onto the pages? Not needed if you can "photograph" a perfect AI-generated model.
Like, does she have a name? What do we call her? What's her going rate? Will she be coming back in Fall issues sporting autumnal looks of luxury? It's all just a little surreal. And apparently some fashion brands like H&M are also experimenting with AI-generated marketing campaigns.
So what does all this mean?
Based on the spaces I occupy (online and off-) it has us craving "real." In a world of AI models, we want authenticity. We want to support influencers that stand firm on social issues and use their voices in meaningful ways. And honestly? A whole lot of us are tired of pretty faces that have nothing to say.
When I ask my friends why they follow a specific influencer or celebrity they'll often say, "I just love that they're so real." An actual person we can get down with. Someone we could maybe grab lunch with, laugh with, cry about the state of the world with. Someone raw and real. No perfection, just all of the human flaws and emotions that make us who we are.
At the same time, I'm seeing a rise in microblogging, in Substack writers, and "intellectual influencers." I foresee a rise in this kind of content in our near future. As a public, we're craving it. We need it.
What might this mean for you?
If you are a creative, your voice matters that much more right now. Your art matters. Because you, an actual human with thoughts and feelings have things to say. So create and speak up, so we can amplify your message.
Thanks for writing this post. I’ve been thinking about this so much while negotiating how much AI to let into my personal and work life. We’re in for an interesting time…
I did not realize that there are AI models. I guess I need to look at magazines more. I wonder about the long lasting impact of AI models, apart from the short term such as decreased self-esteem and confidence.
Anyway, thank you for sharing. This was great!