Software applications claiming the capability to remove clothing from images using artificial intelligence have emerged. These applications, often advertised as “free,” operate on the premise of sophisticated algorithms trained to reconstruct what might be underneath clothing. Such tools typically require an uploaded image as input and purportedly generate an altered image as output.
The rise of these applications raises significant ethical and legal concerns. The non-consensual manipulation of images in this way represents a serious violation of privacy and can contribute to the creation and dissemination of non-consensual intimate imagery, with potentially devastating consequences for individuals. Historically, similar image manipulation techniques required considerable skill and resources; however, the accessibility and purported ease of use of these AI-powered tools exacerbate the problem.