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Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, March 23, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.
Pinterest uses AI to identify diverse skin tones, body types, and hair patterns across billions of images on its platform, then uses those signals to ensure that search results and recommendations reflect a broader range of human appearances. Users can filter fashion search results by body type ranges, skin tone ranges, and hair patterns. The body type technology launched in September 2023, with public user filters rolling out in March 2024; skin tone ranges have been available since 2018.
Details
The body type system uses computer vision to classify shape, size, and form across more than 5 billion images — a task Pinterest describes as a first for the industry at this scale. These classifications feed into a diversity-aware ranking layer that adjusts search result ordering to prevent any single body type from dominating results. Pinterest reports a 454% improvement in body type representation on women's fashion searches, and users who applied body type range filters had a 66% higher engagement rate per session. The skin tone detection system uses the Monk Skin Tone Scale (a 10-point scale developed by Harvard sociologist Ellis Monk) to classify images, which users can then filter by. Hair pattern search allows users to filter by curl type. The systems were developed in consultation with external advocates including NAAFA and model Tess Holliday.
Products affected
Pinterest searchPinterest recommendationsPinterest AR Try-On
Sources & Evidence
Other practices by Pinterest
OtherPinterest maintains an internal program called Responsible AI that covers three areas: building inclusive AI features (the skin tone, body type, and hair pattern tools described in Practice 21), testing its AI systems for unfair bias (using internal tools that measure whether models perform equally well across different groups of users), and developing guidelines for the safe use of generative AI. The program includes red teaming — structured attempts to find flaws or harmful outputs in AI systems before they launch.OtherPinterest is testing AI-powered upgrades to its Boards feature that go beyond simple user-organized collections. In October 2025, Pinterest launched an experiment in the U.S. and Canada where the platform automatically generates outfit ideas from a user's saved fashion Pins ("Styled for you"), creates entirely AI-curated boards based on trending styles ("Boards made for you"), and suggests related products based on what a user has already saved ("Make It Yours").OtherPinterest offers augmented reality (AR) try-on tools that let users see what products would look like on themselves or in their homes before buying. Users can try on thousands of lipstick and eyeshadow shades using their phone camera, or see how furniture and home décor items would look in their actual room. The beauty try-on launched around 2020 and the home décor version in January 2022. Pinterest says users are five times more likely to show purchase intent on Pins with try-on enabled.
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