Pinterest revolutionizes body representation with its new tech

Pinterest, the popular online platform for inspiration, is taking a giant stride towards celebrating diversity and inclusivity. In a bid to make its platform more reflective of real-life diversity, Pinterest has unveiled a groundbreaking technology capable of identifying various body types in over 5 billion images on its platform. This cutting-edge technology introduces advanced body type recognition, marking a significant leap forward in enhancing user experience and promoting inclusiveness on the platform. 

The initial rollout of this technology will be available to users in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with plans to expand to additional markets in the future. 

This development is crucial simply because representation matters. When people from all walks of life visit Pinterest in search of fashion inspiration or wedding ideas, it’s crucial for them to see individuals who look like themselves. This fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment. The company believes that everyone should feel inspired and represented when using their platform.

In the development of this groundbreaking technology, Pinterest’s Inclusive Product Team engaged in extensive collaboration with experts both within and outside the organization. Over the past year, they partnered with the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), as well as with Tess Holliday, a prominent advocate for diverse body sizes, and Pinterest Creators Natalie Craig, Kellie Brown, and Stefany Brito. This collective effort yielded invaluable insights and consultations, shedding light on the unique needs of the plus-size community. As a result, they successfully engineered a sophisticated computer vision system adept at comprehending the diverse shapes, sizes, and forms that characterize various body types depicted in images.

With this newfound understanding of visual content, Pinterest is actively adjusting its algorithms. The goal is to boost the representation of diverse body types and skin tones in search results and related Pins. For example, if you’re searching for the perfect outfit for your graduation ceremony, you can expect to see results that include people with a variety of body types and skin tones. 

This initiative is a significant step towards making Pinterest a more welcoming and inspiring platform for everyone. It sends a powerful message that diversity is not just acknowledged but celebrated. Pinterest is working hard to ensure that each user feels seen, valued, and inspired during their Pinterest journey. It’s a commendable effort that demonstrates the platform’s dedication to making the internet a more inclusive space for all.

Sabrina Ellis, Pinterest’s Chief Product Officer said: “At Pinterest, we believe that inspiration begins with inclusion. That’s why we continue to develop inclusive product experiences that make it easier to find the best ideas that feel made for you. With the powerful addition of our new body type technology to our suite of inclusive AI efforts, we have improved representation of different body types on the platform by 5x across women’s fashion related searches in the US.”