Monday Musings on The New Frontier of Fake
Happy Monday Ladies. It may sound strange, but I get a great sense of accomplishment from working my way through my ironing pile. I watched random YouTube videos, and generally zoned out. What I noticed, is that this pile had more colorful items than ever before and I’m not sure if I like it. I have no problem styling bright, colorful outfits in a try-on, but comitting to them long term is a different story.
As promised, here’s a snap of what I wore yesterday. I worked from home, did a ton of laundry, ironed for several hours, then we walked to a local restaurant for dinner. As you know, I usually wear neutrals so this shirt was a stretch for me. The waittress immediatly complimented me on it, and proceeded to tell me that she only wears neutrals, which I found rather funny.
She’s Not Real
I ran into a profile on Instagram a few weeks ago that stopped me mid-scroll. This woman, claiming to be 63, looked spectacular (more like 50) and was sharing her reinvention story. She’d survived a midlife divorce, conquered her low energy, lost weight, smoothed out her skin, and completely turned her life around by “making the right choices.” She even made a video with her daughter talking about the pure joy of being a grandmother.
It was warm, it was relatable, but the problem is, she isn’t real. She’s entirely AI-generated. The “daughter,” the “grandchildren,” the mid-life awakening…are all lies, likely cooked up by some 22-year-old tech bro who knows how to manipulate an algorithm. And of course, she was selling something.
The wildest part was I noticed several women I know were following her. Did they know she wasn’t real? I’m guessing not. Meta has stated that they require AI to be labeled, but they’re not enforcing the rule, so it’s becoming like the wild, wild west out there.
The first AI woman I spotted several months ago now has millions of followers. She’s styled to look like an impossibly perfect, fabulously wealthy older woman, dispensing pearls of wisdom like, “Darling, a woman doesn’t let anyone tell her how she should think.” And “Darling, a wise woman knows…” With over a few million followers, her bio is now selling a book!
You have to appreciate the absolute irony of a digital puppet telling real women how to think, all while selling a book on confidence. Buy the book, and you too can look and behave just like her! Except you can’t, because she’s made of pixels.
We’re being flooded with these AI personas engineered to prey on our confidence. They use deeply human psychological triggers because those are the exact stories that build instant trust. It bypasses our natural skepticism because we want to believe that kind of reinvention is possible.
But it’s a double-edged sword of deceit.
On one side, older women are being sold a load of absolute bull. We’re being told we can achieve a level of physical perfection that does not exist in nature. On the other side, younger women are being fed a terrifying narrative about aging. They’re being shown these hyper-glossy digital avatars as the only acceptable way to grow older, reinforcing the lie that wrinkles and life experience are things to be feared and erased.
It’s funny, but we used to worry about airbrushing in magazines. Now, the entire person is an illusion.
The technology has gotten so good that a video is no longer glitchy when a hand moves or a person walks so it’s getting harder to spot.
The beauty and wellness industries have always played on women’s insecurities to get us to spend money, but creating entire fake women to do it? That is a whole new level of low.
We like to think we’re smarter than that. And right now, maybe we are. But as this technology improves, and it will, rapidly…the line between real and AI is going to vanish completely.
Readers Questions
If you have questions of your own you can pop them in the comments or hit reply to the email of this post.
Q – Can you tell me what eyeliner you use?
A – This one is simple, I began using this Stila Waterproof Liquid Liner Pen. It’s like a felt-tip pen that I started using about 6 years ago and haven’t found a better one. I use Alloy, which is a soft gray, and I also have it in Intense Labradorite, which I use when I want a smokier eye. I’ve tried soft pencils more times than I can count, but no matter how soft they claim to be, they drag on the loose skin along my lashline. Here are a few other brands:
Q – Please help a silver haired /salt and pepper lady with brown eyes discover a shade of brown that works.
A – Color analysis is iffy at best in a virtual situation, and even in person, the accuracy of your results depends on the system they use and the competence of the person analyzing you. I would suggest you start by determining if you have a warm or cool undertone. Then you may find it helpful to discover your personal contrast level. Finally, try on many shades of brown, snap selfies, and study them to see which ones drain energy from your face and which ones make you look most vibrant.
Q – I have a question about slip shorts. I have a long summer dress that is thin fabric. I do not want my legs to show through when it’s sunny. Are slip shorts good for that, or do I wear a traditional half-slip?
A – Since slip shorts conform to your legs, the shape of your legs will show through the sheer dress fabric. I recommend a slip.
There are lots of great things still available at the Nsale and while I am not going to beat this sale to death, I wanted to share some new collections I’ve made.
Here are some great sweater jackets, which I find comfy and wearable in the fall. I refreshed and update this collection of Trench Coats and I ordered this one. I also added more wide-leg jeans to this collection, because we’re going to be seeing lots of them this fall.
Let’s chat about these AI profiles? Have you noticed them popping up in your feeds, your search results, or in advertisements? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
As you said, we’ve gotten to the point where these AI-generated “people” are impossible to distinguish from the real thing. I’m fascinated by dentistry and follow a few dentists on YouTube, only to recently discover one of my favorites was actually fake. And I never would have known if one of the commenters hadn’t noted how real they seemed. Wow. Lesson learned?
That’s a rude awakening. A dentist? Wow.
Great musings on AI. It is beyond scary at this point. I question everything now. But the scariest part for me is that so many people are so gullible.
That’s what scares me too. But the technology is getting so good it’s almost impossible to tell.
I also find the AI generated influencers alarming. I earned a microcredential in AI and believe it is good for certain tasks but certainly not replacing human beings in these contexts. It doesn’t need to solve a problem that does not exist. There are lots of good human influencers out there.
So far I can tell it’s AI, so I don’t click. If I do click by accident , I comment “ AI” . Maybe real posters need to add a sign on their pics saying “REAL “.
It’s getting that way!
Yesterday, at someone’s suggestion, I watched a 45 -minute (or so) video in which Bill Gates discussed a cure for Alzheimer’s disease This is a medication that is natural, and that clears cadmium (to which the video attributes Alzheimer’s) out of the brain, thereby removing Alzheimer’s, not just preventing it. It is very convincing and you can buy the product. The only problem is, Bill Gates isn’t saying this. Steve Martin is interviewed talking about how he reversed his incipient Alzheimer’s. But it isn’t Steve Martin, it is AI. It is all AI. Anyone who watches these videos should say that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and check further.
My husband watched a video of Elon Musk selling a cure for tinnitus except it wasn’t Elon. Many are being duped by these.
My husband fell for this one and it cost him $300! He is a physician and should know better. I don’t have the heart to tell him that it is fake. So far my internal warning system has worked for me on these fakes. Skin too smooth, faces too balanced, figures not in nature. Plus, what are they selling?
I tell my husband because I’m trying to teach him to recognize the AI fakes
I have been following quite a while now. I am a few years older, but ‘was’ approximately the same size, shape, etc. But you have lost weight and look really comfortable – and great. Is it too personal to ask how you are doing it? I feel like I’m losing my lifelong battle. …in Omaha.
I’ve lost about 10 pounds by cutting out empty carbs, only drinking wine on very special occasions and eating much smaller proportions. I no longer snack and have been more diligent with my excercise. We don’t buy bread, crackers or pasta anymore. If it’s not in the house, I can’t reach for it.
Instagram has totally crossed over to a plethora of AI generated posts. It’s funny how seeing these ultra slim women who claim to be my age (75) wearing fabulous clothes and flawless skin can work on your brain. I have a friend who wrings her hands over her health and appearance thinking she doesn’t hit the mark and always fearing the worse. I admit I fall for some of the warnings and advice they dispense but my brain keeps telling me to keep the faith and know the natural process of aging can’t be halted. Good conversation, Jennifer!
These AI accounts are playing on women’s insecurities and they do it well.
Speaking of AI, I see a lot of short videos on facebook that look fake. But a lot also look totally real! I don’t know what to believe anymore! It really is disturbing! P.S. I really like your blue shirt! I also wear “my” neutrals which are navy, black and white. And sometimes bright pink for color!
It’s very disturbing!
Yes I have noticed the AI grandma who looks perfect in every way. That was the first clue for me, she is perfect in every way. No real human can be that perfect. I think it’s quite attractive to a lot of people who do not look any deeper than the surface. Her perfection is a big time trigger for women who have been made to feel inadequate on every level. It makes us question ourselves rather than the image of perfection.
My eyeliner for years has been Bobbie Brown retractable gel pencil style in Chocolate truffle. I buy 2-3 at a time. Recently tried a similar MAC in a lighter brown shade and it’s great too. I’m older and my once big blue eyes are smaller, more grey- blue but I find the browns work best so far ( eye shadow too).
Brown is often softer on pale skin
Dear Jennifer,
Thank you so much for this article on AI and targeting older women. I’m about to turn 66 and find myself looking at FB ads on everything from sagging skin to tummy bulge! Obviously, the more I look the more FB floods me with these ads and you don’t know what or who to believe!
I enjoy reading your emails and seeing the outfits you put together as well as your advice on skin products. It’s good to know that there is some honest advice out there!
Yes the algorithm just feeds us more and more
Oh my gosh, I follow that woman who starts every sentence with “Darling”. I had no idea she was an AI fake!! Good grief, it is getting just ridiculous. Thank-you for the heads-up!
Thank you for your astute observations and careful scrutiny of social media. We can be so naive and gullible without realizing it. We need to be vigilant and demonstrate our hard earned wisdom with our younger relatives and friends.
We do! I worry about my grandsons. What can they believe.
I too came across a similar profile and it was fascinating. I was quite taken with the images of the woman with her new partner…..a mix of Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery and other “manly” men! 🙂 I believe AI images should be clearly identified…disturbing that these accounts are marketed to mature woman as reality. Thank you for highlighting this topic.
I love the grey trench!
I haven’t come across that account but I’m sure I will. Once you watch one, the algorithm feeds you many more.
That sapphire looks great on you. I love color, so of course I’d say that – but it’s true.
Thank you for always keeping it real!
Thank you so much for your comments on AI generated manipulation. You have said out loud what has infuriated me for sometime. Is there any way we can rebel and reclaim authenticity?
I believe the AI cat is out of the bag and there’s no putting it back. All we can do is be careful and question everything we see.
Good morning and Thank you for this post. I read you daily and like your common sense approach to being our best – age, flaws, and all.
Please continue to be a voice for reality.
Thankfully I don’t think I have seen them. I follow very few influencers and they are definitely real. Two have written books and had live signings and I actually ate at the same restaurant as a third. But mostly I follow women who are living real lives and are beautiful without obvious plastic surgery. I find the extreme plastic surgery look destabilizing in general, because even in person, it doesn’t look authentic or even fully human sometimes.
Hi, Jennifer – I must be more jaded than most, or it’s the New Yorker in me, but I long ago started believing that everything online was manipulative. Especially as it pertains to women and beauty. Why are we so desperate that we fall for these scams?