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In the past year, artificial intelligence has become an integral part of our cultural conversation. Lensa-generated portraits flooded social media feeds, while the impact of AI systems like ChatGPT and BARD accessibility reverberated in classrooms and boardrooms alike. This surge of AI has evoked a mix of excitement and apprehension among the public. Even in the fashion industry, both the creative minds in front of and behind the camera express concerns about AI encroaching on their jobs.
At the intersection of fashion and technology, Sinéad Bovell has emerged as a pioneering figure, effectively bridging the gap between the “cool” and the “nerdy.” Bovell, an entrepreneur and public speaker, delves into the profound ideas and implications of technology on our future. While there are terrifying implications of AI-generated models and entirely generated ad campaigns, the first generation Canadian’s outlook on AI as a whole tends to be overwhelmingly positive.
Leveraging her experience as a New York City model, and her background in finance, chemistry, and business, Bovell founded WAYE (Weekly Advice for the Young Entrepreneur), a tech media company that transforms tech education into an engaging, digestible, and cool experience. Through WAYE’s viral event series, she orchestrates gatherings of fashion models, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, exploring cutting-edge topics such as Blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the future of work.
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Bovell’s ability to translate complex concepts into relatable narratives has established her as a trusted voice in the realms of technology and futurism. Her accolades include hosting a YouTube show with Wired Magazine, delivering a compelling TEDx Talk, assuming the role of the United Nations’ voice of youth on technology, and earning a well-deserved spot on Refinery29‘s prestigious list of top ten Black women game-changers. She has also taken on the role of the new host of PBS Digital Studios’ Far Out, a captivating exploration of the future of science, technology, and culture, which can be found on the PBS Terra YouTube channel.
In an exclusive interview with SI Swimsuit, Bovell passionately delves into her thoughts and emotions concerning technology, AI, and their intersection with the fashion world.
What inspired you to pursue the career in tech that you have?
“I’ve always worked closely with and been inspired by technology. When I was doing my MBA, classmates and I actually launched a startup based on an app we had designed. I also studied under a futurist while I was in school and that really caught my interest—being able to use data to build forecasts about future scenarios.
“But when I stepped into the world of fashion, I immediately realized the conversations I used to have about technology and the future weren’t happening in these rooms. And not because creatives weren’t interested. They were. They are! But the material pertaining to emerging technologies wasn’t accessible for a lot of people. I was really inspired to change that. To make technology a language everyone speaks.
“We all deserve to be invited to the conversations about our own futures.”
Can you talk to me a bit about the impacts of AI on the world of modeling and entertainment? Would you give any particular advice to folks that rely on modeling for their livelihood?
“One thing that has taken a lot of people by surprise is the impact AI is having on creative industries, such as art and modeling. But there really isn’t an industry or job that AI won’t impact. For modeling, we are slowly starting to see the emergence of avatars and AI-generated models. This isn’t a widespread trend or anything. Still very much in the exploratory phase. But it’s possible that AI does augment fashion modeling in some ways. Some models have created avatars of themselves that they can use for digital shoots. And technology these models can be in multiple places at one time. I would urge models to move cautiously when it comes to the data and make sure they have full rights to their likeness. I also think it’s important for models to really lean into their uniquely human stories. Something AI will never have. I would also recommend models to lean into AI and uncover the ways you can capitalize on it yourself. Such as using it to create content—AI will soon equip you with the tools of a small production company. And to do your best to try to keep up with the way technology is changing the industry so you can prepare and adapt.”
Given the ways that we can imagine AI impacting the entire job market in the future, what skills do you think will be most valuable?
“Being able to communicate with, and co-create alongside artificial intelligence will be a really important skill. When you see AI art or text from ChatGPT, the quality of those images are texts that have a lot to do with the text prompt the human entered. Some people refer to this as ‘prompt engineering.’ It will be really important for getting the most out of the AI system you are working with.
“Flexibility and adaptability are also very important. The pace of change is only going to accelerate in the future, and the ability to adapt to new situations and learn quickly will be a valuable asset. This includes being open to new ideas, taking risks, and being comfortable with ambiguity.
“And finally, lifelong learning.With the rate of technological change and new developments in various fields, the need for continuous learning and upskilling will be critical. Being able to learn new things quickly, and being proactive in seeking out new knowledge, will be important for staying relevant in the job market.”
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The AI images of the pope in a puffer and Donald Trump getting arrested have recently gone viral and fooled a lot of people. What tools/skills can people lean on and cultivate to know what is true online?
“AI-generated content does have a lot of implications for public trust. In a world where an image may no longer be synonymous with truth—that has all sorts of implications. And AI-generated video is on the way. AI literacy is an incredibly important skill for all of us. Which includes thinking critically about the information around us. Why an algorithm may have shown it to you. Who authored it and are they credible? (Was it AI?). On a broader scale, tech companies need to equip journalists and newsrooms with the tools to be able to flag AI-generated content wherever possible. Perhaps a new role emerges: AI fact-checkers.”
What are some of the ways you are excited to see technology and AI evolving over the next decade, and the impact that it will have on society? Is there anything that you are most worried about?
“I am really excited about the possibilities that are hard to imagine right now. When the smartphone was invented—Uber, Google Maps, Instagram, email on the go—so much of our daily lives hadn’t been “created” yet. The smartphone made it all possible. Imagine what could be possible in a world where we stream artificial intelligence the way we stream the internet? Researchers are currently exploring how generative AI can be applied to medicine, and that really excites me. For instance, instead of asking AI to generate a piece of art, could we ask it to generate a new protein or medical treatment? While this research is just getting underway, it seems promising. On the risk side of things, preparing for a world where AI isn’t just amplifying content but also generating it is important. As well as the impact AI could have on the job market. Putting the right safety measures in place and anticipating the impact where possible is incredibly important.”
What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about AI and its potential
“One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it is a kind of all-knowing, super-intelligent entity that can solve any problem or make decisions better than humans. While AI has made significant advancements in recent years, it still has limitations and is only as good as the data it is trained on and the algorithms it uses.
“Another common misconception that AI is difficult to use or that it requires specialized technical knowledge. Many AI-powered products and services, such as Netflix and ChatGPT, have been designed to be user-friendly and accessible to people without technical expertise. Which is why it’s important to lean into them and get comfortable working with them. So you can leverage them to your benefit.”
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