The Growing Influence of AI in Fashion: The Diminishing Role of Photography Careers and Virtual Styling Services

The Rapid Advancement of AI in Fashion: A Timeline of Transformation

The fashion industry is undergoing a technological revolution at a breakneck speed. Traditional roles such as fashion photographers, virtual stylists, and creative directors are increasingly being replaced—or soon will be—by sophisticated artificial intelligence solutions. Here’s an overview of recent developments that highlight just how quickly AI is reshaping fashion, with a focus on the last week alone.

January 2025: AI Models Disrupt for Small Brands
In early 2025, innovative startup Botika secured $8 million in funding. Their platform leverages AI-generated fashion models to replace human photographers, particularly benefiting smaller brands looking for cost-effective and rapid content creation. This shift marks a significant change in how fashion visuals are produced (source).

May 2025: Virtual Try-Ons Go Social
By mid-2025, Doji raised $14 million to develop AI-driven avatars designed for virtual try-ons that are perfect for social sharing, especially on platforms like TikTok. These avatars enable consumers to experiment with outfits and share their looks instantly, creating new avenues for engagement and marketing (source).

Google’s AI Integration Accelerates
Also in May, Google introduced “AI Mode,” allowing billions of products to feature virtual try-ons powered by AI. This move democratizes access to virtual styling tools, making them a standard part of online shopping experiences (source).

Recent Breakthroughs in AI Styling
Just two weeks prior, Alta raised $11 million to launch an all-in-one AI stylist platform capable of replacing traditional human stylists entirely. Their technology offers complete fashion advice and styling without human intervention (source).

In the last two days, FASHN AI released a hyper-realistic virtual try-on model with a resolution of 1 megapixel, effectively eliminating the need for human models in commercial styling visuals. This advancement enhances realism and efficiency in digital fashion content