Pinterest is introducing a new body type technology to its suite of inclusive AI innovations — a first-of-its-kind technology that uses shape, size, and form to identify various body types in over five billion images on the platform.
Pinterest is leveraging this body type technology, and previously launched skin tone technology, to shape how its algorithms increase representation across related feeds and search results for women’s fashion and wedding-related content.
Since 2018, Pinterest has set industry-leading standards on product and policies that promote a positive, diverse and inclusive experience. From creating technologies that detect and give users the tools to refine results by skin tone ranges and hair pattern to integrating skin tone ranges into Try on for Beauty for lipsticks and eyeshadows, Pinterest has been intentional in its efforts to create an inspiring place on the internet.
Pinterest’s Inclusive Product Team partnered with experts internal and external of Pinterest to develop a body type technology that uses shape, sizes, and form to identify body types in images. With this enhanced understanding of visual content through computer vision technology, Pinterest has shaped its algorithms to increase representation of body type and skin tone across search results and related Pins. For example, if a user searches for date night outfit inspiration, they will see results inclusive of various body types and skin tone ranges.
“At Pinterest, we believe that inspiration begins with inclusion. That’s why we continue to develop inclusive product experiences that make it easier to find the best ideas that feel made for you. With the powerful addition of our new body type technology to our suite of inclusive AI efforts, we have improved representation of different body types on the platform by five times across women’s fashion related searches in the US,” Pinterest chief product officer, Sabrina Ellis said.
With more Pinterest users embracing body inclusivity and looking for fashion inspiration to suit their bodies, brands and creators have an opportunity to meet users where they are in their journey to find new ideas, discover new products, and shop for the looks that fit them the best. Users are getting inspired and are increasingly searching for body representation with searches like “Mum summer outfits curvy” up 47 times, “concert looks plus size” up 6 times, and “plus size bridal dresses” up 5 times, year over year.