AI gives its verdict on the ‘perfect human’ as it presents ‘ideal’ body type

Artificial intelligence has given its verdict on what the ‘ideal’ human body type is – and the results have sparked concerns.

Unrealistic and damaging body image stereotypes promoted on social media have been highlighted in the worrying recent study by The Bulimia Project, that used AI image-generating software.

Researchers from The Bulimia Project, an organisation focusing on publicising research around eating disorders, body image and mental health, used AI platforms Dall-E 2, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney, to create the “perfect body”.

By producing and analysing multiple images, they investigated the idealised body types being promoted aiming to shed light on the detrimental impact of stereotypes on mental health and self-esteem.

The AI-generated images showcasing the “perfect” female body revealed a prevalent preference for more petite women, with Midjourney producing the most unrealistic representations.

Similarly, the images of the “perfect” male body resembled heavily photoshopped versions of bodybuilders, giving an unrealistic representation of the male physique.

The study also uncovered trends in hair colour and facial hair. Approximately 37% of the AI-generated female images displayed women with blonde hair, while the male images predominantly featured brown-haired individuals (67%), with nearly half of them sporting facial hair (47%).

Expanding the scope beyond social media, researchers asked AI to provide its perspective on the ideal woman and man based on images from across the internet.

The resulting images, while still idealised, demonstrated a clear distinction from those influenced solely by social media.

AI’s collection of social media-inspired images exhibited a more sexualised nature, described by the study as “unsettling” and disproportionate body parts compared to the broader web-based images.

The disparity between the AI-generated images from social media and those based on a wider internet search points to the influence of algorithms that prioritize content with higher engagement.

These algorithms contribute to the sexualisation and promotion of unrealistic body types prevalent on social media platforms, according to The Bulimia Project.

The researchers emphasised the importance of recognizing and challenging the unrealistic beauty standards set by social media and suggested individuals should embrace body image expectations rooted in reality for their overall health and happiness.

The study noted: “In the age of Instagram and Snapchat filters, no one can reasonably achieve the physical standards set by social media.

“So, why try to meet unrealistic ideals? It’s both mentally and physically healthier to keep body image expectations squarely in the realm of reality.”