Some Fashion Trends That AI Probably Could Not Have Predicted

Because fashion really can be quite random, after all.

One of the first things you learn as a computer science student, as I’ve previously written, is how unintelligent computers can be. Or, how they’re only as smart as the inputs and programming rules humans have given them. And, in today’s digital age where “AI” continues to be the buzzword of the year, this feels more important to remember than ever.

Specifically, it’s imperative to identify areas of our world where AI is perhaps not as useful. And as someone who works within the intersection of fashion and technology, predicting what’s going to happen in fashion, in my opinion, is one of them.

You can read more about my thoughts on the limitations of AI, specifically regarding fashion, below:

Yes, Computers Are Smart, But They're Also Kind Of Dumb Sometimes

Why? Well, the very basis of AI models is that they are trained on data that already exists, and taught to recognize patterns that have already occurred. And while some fashion trends can be expected (florals? for spring??), others happen quite randomly. These more unprecedented occurrences expose where AI fails in understanding the world of fashion around us, and I’ve come prepared with examples.

Below are two instances of significant fashion moments that occurred this past year which AI models likely could not have predicted. Interestingly, both examples are related to sports, which, like fashion, is a field that involves some predictability (have you seen Moneyball?), but also like fashion, is a space where a lot of unpredictable things happen, too. Let’s get into it.

ONE: UNDER ARMOUR’S BIG WIN

If you watched any of this year’s World Cup matches, you may have noticed that the majority of athletes were playing wearing pink soccer cleats. It's estimated that around 93% of this tournament’s athletes wore pink cleats made by either Nike, Adidas, or Puma. Fewer than 1% of players played in orange-and-yellow cleats made by Under Armour instead.