BACKGROUND OF MY RESEARCH
Reflections on Living in a Rapidly Evolving Tech World
This video presents my reflection on how AI is becoming a part of our everyday lives, impacting jobs, education, and the future, which inspired the idea for my research topic on Artificial Intelligence.
To fully understand how AI can support creativity in fashion design, it is essential to first explore the foundations of Artificial Intelligence—what it is, how it works, and why it was developed. These questions are essential for analysing its role in fashion design. This foundation helps clarify how AI can enhance creativity and efficiency in the design process.
Artificial Intelligence was created as as a theoretical concept in the 1950s, the purpose of AI has always been to solve complex problems faster, automate repetitive tasks, and support humans in areas where data, precision, or scale are critical.
Today, AI continues to evolve, moving from logical automation to creative collaboration. In industries like fashion, it is no longer just about efficiency or analysis—it has become a tool that can unlock new ideas, and support more informed helping people in smarter and more imaginative ways.
Image by Telefonica
What makes Artificial “Intelligence”??
According to the father of Artificial Intelligence, John McCarthy, it is “The science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs”.
At the core of AI’s intelligence are four major areas: Machine Learning, Neural Networks, Deep Learning, and Fuzzy Logic.
These same models are used across many industries from healthcare to finance to fashion, but the way AI is applied differs based on the data, goals, and workflows of each field. As AI evolved from rule-based systems to deep learning, we now see models that can learn patterns, make predictions, and even generate visuals. It gets smarter by analysing large datasets and making predictions. This is what gives it 'intelligence', but it’s still limited to what it’s been trained on."
The icons show which models are commonly used in trend forecasting (green) and generative design (orange), as well as the advanced and supporting techniques that make these tools more accurate.
This helps us understand how these different models support creativity and decision-making in fashion.
Human Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries, economies, and daily life. It offers efficiency, automation, and data-driven decision-making, improving productivity across various sectors. However, AI also brings ethical, social, and technical challenges that require careful consideration. Here is a comprehensive look at the benefits and drawbacks of AI in general.
Conclusion on Artificial Intelligence
While both humans and Artificial Intelligence process information and solve problems, their capabilities and limitations are fundamentally different. Humans rely on emotion, intuition, and lived experience, while AI operates through data, logic, and patterns learned from training. Understanding these differences helps clarify the unique strengths each brings to creative industries like fashion. The future lies not in choosing between human or machine, but in combining both to create more meaningful, innovative outcomes.
AI as a Co-Thinker and Collaborator with Humans
Machines were once seen purely as tools, something we used, not something we collaborated with. But in the 2010s, the way humans interacted with machines began to evolve, especially with the rise of AI-powered virtual assistants. Devices like Apple’s Siri (launched in 2011) and Amazon’s Alexa (2014) introduced natural language processing, allowing people to speak to machines more intuitively. Still, these early systems had their limitations. They often felt robotic, impersonal, and were seen more as novelty gadgets than true partners. In fact, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella famously referred to the first wave of voice assistants as “dumb as a rock” in an interview with the Financial Times.
The game truly changed with the introduction of transformer architecture — a breakthrough in the development of large language models (LLMs). Suddenly, machines could understand and generate human-like language with remarkable fluency. OpenAI’s Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT), better known as ChatGPT, is a prime example of this shift. These models have made it possible for anyone — even without coding skills — to "program" through natural conversation.
With this advancement, machines are no longer just tools; they’ve become collaborators that integrate into various industries and perform a wide range of tasks — from creative work to decision-making.
AI can now assist in two powerful ways:
As a co-pilot, it helps execute tasks more efficiently.
As a co-thinker, it supports your thinking process, offering ideas, asking questions, and helping you reflect.
The table below illustrates examples of how generative AI can operate in both roles, enhancing tasks across leadership, creativity, operations, and strategy.
Di Fiore, E., & Roncone, G. (2025). Generative AI for managers. Harvard Business School Publishing.
History and Development of AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science focused on creating machines capable of simulating human intelligence by performing tasks such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. AI systems use data, algorithms, and computational power to carry out these tasks efficiently.
Balancing Innovation and Responsibility
Artificial Intelligence (AI) started with a simple question: Can machines think?
Early systems followed fixed rules, they could execute tasks but couldn’t learn or adapt. Over time, advances in machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning transformed AI into something far more capable. Today, AI can recognize patterns, predict outcomes, generate images, and even engage in conversation. It has grown from basic automation into an intelligent system that learns from data and improves over time.
What makes AI powerful is its ability to process and analyse massive amounts of data at incredible speed—something far beyond human capacity. But AI doesn’t think or feel like humans do. It has no intuition, no context, no emotions. Instead, it draws from the data it’s trained on. It’s fast, consistent, and objective. Meanwhile, humans bring everything AI lacks: emotional depth, ethical judgment, cultural awareness, and lived experience.
There is a risk, of course, in over-relying on tools that make life easier. Just as calculators reduced our need for mental math or GPS replaced our sense of direction, AI could make us mentally passive—if we let it. But the key lies in how we use it.
AI doesn’t generate original thought, it reflects patterns. Humans still need to ask the right questions, interpret results, and make meaningful decisions. Skills like critical thinking, creativity, and empathy remain uniquely human and irreplaceable.
Used passively, AI might dull our abilities. But used wisely, it can amplify them. It can help test ideas, generate possibilities, and free up time for deeper thinking. Rather than replacing us, AI can push us to become better thinkers and creators.
In the end, AI won’t make us less intelligent—unless we give up control. It’s still up to us to stay thoughtful, curious, and intentional. Like any powerful tool, AI’s impact depends entirely on the hands that guide it.
Researcher reflection on Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence used to feel like something far off — something only tech experts really talked about. I remember back in school, the idea of having a video call seemed almost silly, like something we joked about but didn’t seriously expect to happen. Now, video calls are part of everyday life. What’s even more interesting is how AI quietly makes them better by adding features like background blur, clearer audio, or even real-time subtitles. The same goes for things like unlocking our phones with facial recognition or watching self-driving cars being used on the streets. These things used to sound unrealistic, but now they’re real and happening around us. It’s surprising how quickly AI has become part of our normal lives, often in ways we don’t even notice, and it’s already changing how we live, work, and connect with each other.
For me, learning about AI feels like stepping into a new world full of opportunities. There’s so much potential in what AI can offer. It’s not about replacing the way we live or think, but about filling the gaps — supporting us in areas where we may struggle, and helping us improve things like data analysis, productivity, and more. Understanding how to work with AI will likely become part of everyday life and work. It could be one of the valuable skills to have, much like computer literacy is today.
“It isn’t just a tool we learn once — it’s a constantly evolving field. Staying updated, curious, and open to learning will be key to using it meaningfully over time.”
When used wisely, AI can be an incredibly powerful assistant, helping us work faster, think more broadly, and unlock ideas we might not have seen before. However, as much as AI brings promise, we must also be aware of its challenges and risks. It’s important to recognise that AI is only as good as the data and intentions behind it. Bias in algorithms, misinformation, privacy concerns, and overreliance on automation are real issues that need careful thought and regulation. If we’re not critical of how AI is used, it could reinforce inequality, reduce human connection, or even lead to job displacement in certain fields.
There’s a quote I often come back to: “AI won’t replace your job. But someone who knows how to use AI effectively will.”
It’s a reminder that this technology is not going away — and those who understand and use it well will shape the future. Similar to how not knowing how to use a computer became a disadvantage in the past, the same may soon be true for this technology.
This is important that we don’t just use it, we need to understand it, question it, and learn how to live alongside it in a thoughtful and ethical way. The goal isn’t blind adoption but smart integration, where humans remain in control, and technology becomes a tool for innovative change.
The rise of Artificial Intelligence in the fashion industry
The fashion industry, known for its constant evolution and innovation, has embraced Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key driver of its future. AI adoption in fashion began in the early 2000s with basic data analysis tools designed to understand consumer behavior and preferences. Initially, AI played a supporting role, optimizing supply chains and inventory management to improve efficiency. However, as technology advanced, its influence expanded beyond logistics, shaping more creative and strategic aspects of fashion
Image by Freeprik
Image by Freeprik
By the 2010s, AI had begun to transform the industry in profound ways. No longer confined to back-end operations, it emerged as an influence force in design, marketing, and user experience. AI-powered trend forecasting, personalized recommendations, and generative design tools have enabled brands to anticipate consumer demands with unprecedented accuracy. Today, AI serves as a critical link between consumer behaviour and manufacturing, driving a more responsive, sustainable, and personalised fashion ecosystem.