Fashion Designer Marc Jacobs Collaborates with AI for SS24 Show Collection Notes
Renowned fashion designer Marc Jacobs made headlines recently with his unexpected collaboration with artificial intelligence (AI) for his SS24 show collection notes. Known for his creative vision and daring designs, Jacobs entrusted machine learning to write the notes that accompanied his New York presentation titled ‘Marc Jacobs: A striking fusion of masculine tailoring and feminine elegance’.
In a candid interview with i-D, Jacobs revealed that the decision to involve AI was born out of desperation. Normally, Jacobs and his collaborator Nick Newbold write the show notes themselves during the hectic period leading up to the show. However, this time Jacobs found himself at a loss for words and devoid of any strong emotional connection to his creations.
In a playful exchange, Newbold suggested using ChatGPT, an AI language model, to generate the show notes since they felt they had nothing to say themselves. To their surprise, the AI’s response was remarkably insightful, leaving Jacobs astounded.
Expressing his awe, Jacobs likened the experience to a therapy session where his feelings were deeply understood and clearly articulated. He described how ChatGPT provided a concise and interesting reaction to his statements, giving him a fresh perspective.
While impressed with the capabilities of AI in this collaboration, Jacobs also voiced his concerns about its potential consequences for society. He cited a podcast he had listened to, featuring ex-Google Business Officer Mo Gawdat, in which the rapid advancement of AI technology was discussed. The speed at which AI is progressing is both astonishing and, in Jacobs’ words, terrifying. Yet, the fashion icon believes that by working together, humans and machines can discover the good and fascinating aspects of this collaboration.
Reflecting on the impact of AI on society, Jacobs acknowledged that change can be scary, especially when it resembles the dystopian scenarios depicted in science fiction films. Nevertheless, he emphasized the importance of finding a balance and embracing the potential benefits of this rapidly evolving technology.
Marc Jacobs’ collaboration with ChatGPT for his SS24 show collection notes opens up a new realm of creative possibilities at the intersection of fashion and AI. While raising concerns about the future, Jacobs remains hopeful that embracing this partnership between man and machine can lead to positive outcomes and usher in an era of innovation and imagination.
