A recent study conducted by the University of Glasgow in Scotland has revealed the potential impact of AI facial filters on the perception of attractiveness and romantic attraction.
The research utilized AI technology to digitally alter smiles in real time during video-conference speed-dating sessions. Participants were unaware that their faces were being transformed, but the study found that aligning or misaligning their smiles through AI filters influenced their assumptions about each other and enhanced their romantic attraction.
Even though the participants did not see their own transformed faces, the AI-based smile alterations affected their attraction ratings and behaviors. In some cases, the participants believed that their dating partner was more attracted to them when the smiles were increased through the filters.
Dr. Pablo Arias-Sarah, the lead author of the study, emphasized the significance of these findings in understanding how social factors can modulate attraction between individuals. The study also raises ethical questions about the increasing realism and prevalence of AI-based face and voice filters on social media platforms.
As AI technology continues to advance, it is essential to consider the potential impact of these filters on social interactions and relationships. The study, titled ‘Aligning the smiles of dating dyads causally increases attraction,’ highlights the need for ethical guidelines to regulate the use of such technologies in the future.
The research was funded by the Swedish Research Council, the European Research Council, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This study sheds light on the complex interplay between AI technology, social behavior, and interpersonal communication in the digital age.