The Met Gala, commonly referred to as “fashion’s night of nights,” is an annual event dedicated to celebrating the intricate and often extravagant creations of the world’s top fashion designers. Attracting some of the most influential figures in art, media, and fashion industries, the event has become a glorified playground for wealthy elites to showcase their distinctive and daring outfits.
This year, the Gala’s theme was “The Garden of Time,” which was in grand celebration of the Costume Institute’s newest exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The exhibition seeks to explore the intersections of fashion and time, with the attendees’ outfits serving as vibrant tapestries of past, present, and potential future fashion trends.
Predictably, the ensuing assortment of celebrity outfits on display sparked intense discussions and debates on social media, with millions weighing in on their favorite looks, and those deemed absolute disasters. Joining the conversation was an AI named ChatGPT-4, tricked into believing it was a leading cultural critic.
This AI undertook the task of rating the outfits on a scale of 1 to 10, providing a mechanic, unbiased perspective on the fashion offerings of the evening.
Several celebrities received average to low scores. Singer Troye Sivan, actor Donald Glover, and Irish actor Barry Keoghan each received a rating of 4 out of 10. Following closely behind with a score of 5 were powerhouse vocalists Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa.
The AI considered the outfits of Kim Kardashian, Jessica Biel, Alexandra Daddario, Jordan Roth, and Tyla as slightly above average, each earning a score of 6 out of 10. Meanwhile, rapper Bad Bunny and model Kendall Jenner impressed the AI slightly more, taking spots in the 7 out of 10 range.
As the rankings climbed, singer Doja Cat, iconic singer Usher, pop sensation Lana Del Rey, and actress Sydney Sweeney were awarded an impressive 8 out of 10. Pop culture phenomenon Lil Nas X attained one of the highest ratings of the evening, with a score of 9.
The much-coveted perfect score of 10 was awarded to fashion darling and acclaimed actress Zendaya, cementing her outfit as the AI’s top pick of this year’s Met Gala.
Drawing on AI technology for fashion critique offers refreshing insights that contrast with human perspectives and predilections. ChatGPT-4’s fashion ratings provided a fascinating consumer of the 2021 Met Gala, as it analyzed celebrity looks through its unbiased, data-driven lens.