Pinterest announces industry-first body type technology to increase body representation on platform

Today, Pinterest is introducing a new body type technology to its suite of inclusive AI innovations—a first-of-its-kind technology that uses shape, size and form to identify various body types in over five billion images on the platform. Pinterest is leveraging this body type technology, and previously launched skin tone technology, to shape how its algorithms increase representation across related feeds and search results for women’s fashion and wedding-related content. These inclusive AI efforts are helping to make Pinterest a more positive place online—a place where everyone can see themselves reflected.

When you don’t feel represented, it’s hard to feel inspired. Since 2018, Pinterest has set industry-leading standards on products and policies that promote a positive, diverse and inclusive experience. From creating technologies that detect and give users the tools to refine results by skin tone range and hair pattern, to integrating skin tone ranges into the ‘Try on for beauty’ tool for lipsticks and eyeshadows, Pinterest has been intentional in its efforts to create a positive, inclusive and—above all—inspiring place on the internet.

Inspired by user behaviour and the culturally critical discussion around body representation, Pinterest’s inclusive product team partnered with experts inside and outside of Pinterest to develop a body type technology that uses shape, size and form to identify body types in images. With this enhanced understanding of visual content using computer vision technology, Pinterest has shaped its algorithms to increase representation of both body type and skin tone across search results and related Pins. For example, if a user searches for ‘date night outfit inspiration’, they will see results inclusive of various body types and skin tone ranges.

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 US2.

— Sabrina Ellis, Chief Product Officer, Pinterest