Could AI replace human fashion models? A new site is offering “virtual models” built with AI imaging, who can be used in ads and social media posts.
The site is called Deep Agency, and it offers access to several human-looking models. But none of them are real people. Instead, their faces and bodies were built with the help of algorithms that were trained on photos of people to generate synthetic faces, also known as deepfakes.
Deep Agency has decided to apply the technology to the realm of marketing. You can “hire” one of the virtual models and generate photos of them in various poses and settings by typing in some text of the image you’d like to create. In seconds, the site can then produce the image, although the results may vary.
The site is best used for generic poses. If you try to get specific, you can get some weird and amusing results, which show the technology can't render every request accurately.
In a post, Deep Agency’s founder Danny Postma says the site could be useful for companies that need models in their marketing campaigns or e-commerce product photos. The site is charging $29 per month for access during the current beta release. “An absolute steal compared to the normal price of a photoshoot!” Postma says.
Deep Agency arrives when a growing number of people and companies are applying AI to various kinds of jobs that normally require a human to pull off. This includes using generative AI for radio DJs, writing essays and short stories, and producing stock photos.
In the case of Deep Agency, the site still suffers from some limitations. Perhaps the biggest is the lack of product placement; none of the models can wear a piece of apparel to show off to consumers. However, Postma says on Twitter that he plans on exploring the capability.
In the meantime, the site has another feature that might appeal to social media influencers: Users can upload photos to Deep Agency and use it create images of themselves in various poses, eliminating the need to stage and create the photos in real life.