MISS AI
World’s first AI beauty queen wins pageant and claims $13k prize in computer-generated acceptance speech
The digital influencer says she wants to use AI to disrupt industries and challenge norms
AN AI-generated beauty queen bested over 1,000 other contestants to claim a $13,000 prize.
Kenza Layli, a computer-generated influencer from Morocco, has been crowned the world's first Miss AI.
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The prize consisted of $5,000 cash, support on the world's biggest AI creator platform, and a dedicated publicist - a deal worth $13,000.
Layli soared to prominence after impressing a panel of judges including AI-generated influencers Emily Pellegrini and Aitana Lopez.
Of course, Layli also had to win the esteem of real people. Pageant historian Sally-Ann Fawcett and marketing guru Andrew Bloch also sat on the panel.
Contestants were judged on their beauty and social media clout as well as the use of AI tools in their creation.
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Sofia Novales, a member of Lopez's management team, said Layli "stood out" among hundreds of other competitors.
"She had great facial consistency and achieved high quality in details like hands, eyes, and clothing," Novales explained in a statement to The U.S. Sun.
"What truly impressed us was her personality and how she addresses real issues in the world, showing that she takes her role on the platform seriously."
Even before her win, Layli garnered an audience of over 130,000 Instagram followers and scored deals with brands like Hyundai and Bioderma.
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But she still had to battle 1,499 other creators for the crown.
Entries poured in from across the globe, with creators from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas vying for the first-place spot.
Judge Sally-Ann Fawcett reveals what makes a winner in the first ever AI beauty pageant
Two formidable competitors, France's Lalina Valina and Portugal's Olivia C, were just a step behind, finishing in second and third place respectively.
Layli delivered a computer-generated speech as she accepted the honor.
"Winning Miss AI motivates me even more to continue my work in advancing AI technology," she said.
"AI isn't just a tool; it's a transformative force that can disrupt industries, challenge norms, and create opportunities where none existed before."
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It seems this message landed with the judges.
Fawcett, who has judged Miss Great Britain for the past decade, said Layli's words were the most "positive and empowering" of all.
Layli is the brainchild of Meriam Bessa at L'Atelier Digital & AI, a Moroccan media agency.
The influencer is available 24/7 to interact with fans on Instagram - she even speaks seven languages.
"As we move forward, I am committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the field, ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table of technological progress," she said.
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Miss AI was the first contest of the World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs), sponsored by content creator platform Fanvue.
Speaking to The Sun in April, Fanvue co-founder William Monange said he envisioned the WAICAs becoming "the Oscars of the AI creator economy."
"There’s been exponential growth in AI creators entering the space, and with the help of our platform, growing their fan bases and monetizing content," he continued.
“Miss AI recognizes talent and tech which will help to raise standards within the industry."
What are the arguments against AI?
Artificial intelligence is a highly contested issue, and it seems everyone has a stance on it. Here are some common arguments against it:
Loss of jobs - Some industry experts argue that AI will create new niches in the job market, and as some roles are eliminated, others will appear. However, many artists and writers insist the argument is ethical, as generative AI tools are being trained on their work and wouldn't function otherwise.
Ethics - When AI is trained on a dataset, much of the content is taken from the Internet. This is almost always, if not exclusively, done without notifying the people whose work is being taken.
Privacy - Content from personal social media accounts may be fed to language models to train them. Concerns have cropped up as Meta unveils its AI assistants across platforms like Facebook and Instagram. There have been legal challenges to this: in 2016, legislation was created to protect personal data in the EU, and similar laws are in the works in the United States.
Misinformation - As AI tools pulls information from the Internet, they may take things out of context or suffer hallucinations that produce nonsensical answers. Tools like Copilot on Bing and Google's generative AI in search are always at risk of getting things wrong. Some critics argue this could have lethal effects - such as AI prescribing the wrong health information.
In addition to pushing boundaries, Bloch believes the interest in AI creators presents a marketing opportunity.
“The global profile of the awards has thrust AI creators into the mainstream for the first time," he explained.
"It means for Kenza and the other finalists, the door is wide open to secure commercial deals."
Bloch cited the creation of bespoke outfits for the award ceremony as an example of how brands could get involved through future partnerships.
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"AI-generated personas are already hugely influencing advertising, PR, and branding," he said.
"Just this week, my fellow judge Aitana featured on an out-of-home advert in New York’s Times Square. It won’t be long before we see the likes of Kenza doing the same.”