A freely accessible application utilizing artificial intelligence algorithms purports to remove clothing from images. This type of software processes digital photographs and generates an altered version, allegedly revealing the subject unclothed. An example would be uploading a picture of a person fully dressed and receiving back a modified image depicting them in a state of undress.
The availability of such applications raises significant ethical and legal concerns. The unauthorized manipulation of images to create depictions of nudity can have severe consequences for the individuals targeted. Historically, concerns around image manipulation have centered on issues of authenticity and misrepresentation; however, these new technologies introduce the potential for deeply invasive and harmful violations of privacy and consent.