Are these algorithmic beauty standards merely reproducing age-old sexist and racist stereotypes, or might they also disrupt them? How do concepts from feminist theory – like the male gaze, intersectionality, or data feminism – help us critically understand this new digital beauty culture?

It has become clear that there is a lack of algorithmic transparency; users cannot understand why and how AI tools generate answers or what sources they rely on. Sometimes, even developers cannot justify why some individuals are denied jobs, for example. The pressure is increasing to design and regulate AI to be accountable, fair, and transparent (Rodrigues, 2020).