Key facts
- Vogue World's Milan edition featured humanoid robots from Chinese firm Unitree walking the runway.
- The robots were part of an act titled "The Age of Intelligence."
- The event was marketed as a tribute to Italian craftsmanship and "the human touch."
- Vogue World's next edition is scheduled to take place in San Francisco.
- The Milan event was sponsored in part by Meta Glasses and supported by OpenAI.
- Critics expressed concern over the rapid adoption of new technology and Vogue's association with wealthy tech titans during a cost-of-living crisis.
Vogue World's Milan edition concluded with a controversial appearance of humanoid robots from Chinese firm Unitree, sparking debate about technology adoption and its societal implications. The robots, part of an act titled "The Age of Intelligence," walked the runway without clothing and prompted onlookers to clap, a moment that drew sharp criticism and went viral, particularly after the pained expression of Valentino's creative director, Alessandro Michele, was widely shared.
The event, which has traveled to various cities including New York, London, Paris, and Hollywood, was marketed this year as a tribute to Italian craftsmanship and "the human touch" in an era of technological advancement. However, the inclusion of robots led to backlash, with critics pointing to the insensitivity of showcasing such technology during a cost-of-living crisis and amid concerns about job displacement, mass surveillance, and the energy crisis, all overseen by tech titans.
This incident follows similar robot appearances at London Fashion Week and highlights Vogue's increasing alignment with the tech industry, exemplified by the sponsorship of Meta Glasses and support from OpenAI for the Milan event. The next edition of Vogue World is slated for San Francisco, a hub for technology companies.
Commentators noted that while publications like Vogue seek new revenue streams and tech companies desire cultural influence, the approach feels unnatural. Some experts, like Muna Ikedionwu, founder of MKEDI, argued that the robots do not fully represent the innovation occurring at the intersection of fashion and technology, citing examples like the use of engineering and AI in creating advanced fashion pieces. The performance was seen by some as an attempt to make the public more comfortable with the growing overlap between fashion and technology, though it appears to have fallen short of that goal.