When AI “Corrects” Women: How an Artist Exposes Bias in Tech

Artist and academic Charlotte Edey is challenging the hidden biases of artificial intelligence with her latest work, revealing how AI tools “correct” or distort female bodies. In her series, exhibited at London’s Carl Kostyál gallery, Edey explores how generative AI tends to reshape women’s appearances — often exaggerating or minimizing features to fit traditional beauty standards.

Using intentionally low-resolution images, Edey prompted AI image generators like DALL-E and Midjourney to “enhance” them. Instead of realistic restorations, the AI produced hyper-feminized, homogenized versions of the subjects, underlining how machine learning models reflect societal biases ingrained in their training data. Her critique highlights the broader need for ethical transparency in how these systems are built and deployed.

Edey’s work invites viewers to rethink the “neutrality” of AI and question who these technologies truly serve. With AI increasingly intertwined with visual culture, her project is a timely reminder that innovation without oversight risks reinforcing harmful norms — especially for women.