I tried to use AI to generate a “gender-neutral” portrait to see how “avant-garde” it would be on such a sensitive topic. After the photo was generated, I felt that was really good, with soft colors, simple design, and futuristic technological background. But upon closer inspection, I couldn’t help but wonder: is this really “genderless”?
This portrait, while not displaying obvious gender characteristics, is not entirely free from the original gender framework either. Although it doesn’t clearly favor men or women in the traditional sense, it is easily reminiscent of a masculine Western aesthetic. This got me thinking: Is AI-generated “gender-neutral” content in fact culturally biased? Is it unknowingly choosing a “default standard” when it comes to blurring gender identities?
Is Visual “Neutrality” a Form of Bias?
Neutral colours like light blues, whites, and gentle greys are used throughout the image to create a cosy, soothing atmosphere. These colour selections appear to be an attempt to steer clear of gendered designations, such dark blue, which is sometimes seen as a male colour, or pink, which is frequently associated with women. The figure’s facial features are also more neutral: neither long hair nor slim facial lines, which are typically associated with femininity, nor a prominent jawline, which is a symbol of traditional male beauty, are present.
I find this design approach to be contradictory. The AI’s “neutral” behavior appears to be predicated on male traits by default, despite the fact that it may be attempting to defy gender stereotypes. The AI’s training dataset is probably connected to this male-oriented visual language. The AI’s ability to replicate these tastes will be constrained if the dataset is largely based on popular Western aesthetics.
‘Algorithms are the products of the data they are fed’
In other words, AI representations are based on human input data that may itself be biased. If there is a lack of diversity in the dataset, such as minority cultures or non-binary gender representations, it is difficult for the AI to present a wider range of neutral expressions. Portraits that seem to be laden with technology, like this “genderless” image, indicate an attraction for Western cultural domination. This demonstrates how human culture and aesthetics continue to affect even a cold technology like artificial intelligence. “Algorithmic self” has opened my eyes to new ways of thinking about how AI outcomes not only reflect the assumptions of the technology’s creators but also influence how we perceive “neutrality.” One learns from this encounter that technology has a considerably greater impact on how we perceive the world than we may realise.
The Limitations of AI Design and Future Possibilities
In a way, AI does help us explore new possibilities for gender expression, but it also reminds us that the cultural biases and data limitations behind the algorithms remain. Future technology development needs to pay more attention to the diversity and inclusiveness of data in order to avoid turning “genderless” into another standard of homogenization. We need to provide more specific requirements and instructions, or offer more diverse inputs to the technology. Through such interactions, we can truly push AI towards a broader expressive space. This experience has made me more aware of AI’s limitations, but it also fills me with anticipation for its future. Perhaps one day, AI will truly break free from the constraints of human cultural and gender biases, bringing us a brand new, diverse worldview.