Levi's Is Experimenting With AI to Promote Diversity — Which Raises Some Serious Questions The denim brand claims the move will be more "sustainable" — but has yet to clarify how.

By Amanda Breen

SOPA Images | Getty Images

AI has entered the chat, and many companies are using it to solve their problems.

That includes American denim brand Levi Strauss & Co., which will start testing AI-generated clothing models later this year in partnership with digital fashion studio Lalaland.ai as it attempts to diversify its online shopping experience, The Verge reported.

Related: How to Start a Business With $100 Using ChatGPT, AI Tools

At the moment, most items available on the Levi's app or website can only be seen on a single clothing model. The goal of the AI clothing models is more body inclusivity, allowing customers to see the products on models with different body types, ages, sizes and skin tones.

"While AI will likely never fully replace human models for us, we are excited for the potential capabilities this may afford us for the consumer experience," Dr. Amy Gershkoff Bolles, global head of digital and emerging technology strategy at Levi Strauss & Co., said in a statement on the company's site.

Levi's called diversity, equity and inclusion a "top priority" for the company, noting that for the past year, it's made an effort to diversify its employees to reflect its broad consumer base.

But its AI-generated models raise important questions. It's unclear on which platforms the models will be available, if users will be able to customize them and how the move will impact real models, per The Verge.

The company also claims the AI models will be more "sustainable" but didn't respond to the outlet's request for clarification on that detail.

Related: Is AI Going to Radically Transform the SEO Industry? | Entrepreneur

But there's no doubt that Levi's will see labor savings with the AI project. The company has aimed to reduce operating costs amid the pandemic, cutting 700 employees in 2020.

Wavy Line
Amanda Breen

Entrepreneur Staff

Features Writer

Amanda Breen is a features writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

Editor's Pick

A Leader's Most Powerful Tool Is Executive Capital. Here's What It Is — and How to Earn It.
Lock
One Man's Casual Side Hustle Became an International Phenomenon — And It's on Track to See $15 Million in Revenue This Year
Lock
3 Reasons to Keep Posting on LinkedIn, Even If Nobody Is Engaging With You
Why a Strong Chief Financial Officer Is Crucial for Your Franchise — and What to Look for When Hiring One

Related Topics

Starting a Business

5 Tips For Launching a Business While Keeping Your Day Job

Launching a business while holding down a 9-to-5 is no small feat. It's a common path for aspiring entrepreneurs, but it's not without its challenges.

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

Growing a Business

This Stock Screener is on Sale for Memorial Day

invest while mitigating risk with this top-rated stock screening app.

Side Hustle

A Simple Household Chore Turned Into a Side Hustle — Now She Earns Up to $24,000 Per Month

Christian Sanya, 44, was working as a medical laboratory technologist in 2019 when she discovered a side gig that would change her life.