J.Crew under scrutiny for alleged employment of artificial intelligence models in their operations

In the world of fashion, a new controversy has arisen, with J. Crew finding itself at the centre of a debate over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in advertising. The allegations stem from the company's promotional content, which has sparked concerns amongst consumers and sparked a broader discussion about the potential impact of AI on the fashion industry.

The website "Blackbird Spyplane" has brought attention to this issue, identifying potential glitches in the clothing and photo distortions in the images. This has led to speculation that J. Crew's promotional images may have been generated by artificial intelligence.

The company behind the alleged AI-generated advertising images is Midjourney, a firm that has also faced criticism last month with Guess for similar reasons. Disney and NBCUniversal sued Midjourney in June 2025 for using copyrighted material without permission to train its image generation program, which has been linked to the controversies.

Earlier this month, Guess faced similar criticism for an ad in Vogue, suggesting a broader trend in the fashion industry. The alleged use of AI-generated images in J. Crew's promotional content has not only raised questions about the authenticity of their brand but also extended to concerns about job losses.

J. Crew's statement suggests they are exploring new forms of creative expression. However, the use of AI in the fashion industry could potentially impact the employment of human workers, leading to concerns about job losses and the reduction of human jobs.

The images in question, if not genuine, would represent a departure from traditional photography used in J. Crew advertisements. The photos resemble past J. Crew advertisements, but their authenticity is in question.

The fashion industry is under scrutiny for its potential adoption of AI technology and its potential impact on employment. The concerns about job losses in the fashion industry due to AI are not isolated to J. Crew but may be a broader issue.

"Blackbird Spyplane" has also highlighted discrepancies in the clothing and photographic aspects of the images. The use of AI-generated images, if confirmed, could potentially impact the authenticity and credibility of J. Crew's brand.

The use of AI in the fashion industry is a topic of ongoing debate, with concerns about employment and authenticity at the forefront. As the industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how it will navigate the integration of AI technology while maintaining its human touch.

J.Crew under scrutiny for alleged employment of artificial intelligence models in their operations