Five Questions I'd Ask Lori Kirkland Today About AI
As a final reflection on my two conversations regarding AI and the fashion industry with DeepHumanX co-founder Lori Kirkland, I find that this technology has left me with far more questions than answers. We are facing a fundamental shift in how we live and work, which is exactly why the collective anxiety surrounding AI is so palpable.
While I hope to bring Lori back to CTEE to continue this conversation in the near future, I wanted to share a few of the most pressing questions that have been on my mind since our discussion:
Listen to the Episode Here
The Gender Adoption Narrative. Recently, there’s been a narrative circulating on social platforms— helped along by high-profile commentary from figures like Reese Witherspoon—that women are lagging in AI adoption. Yet my personal and professional circles tell a different story. I see women actively using AI agents to optimize workflows and creative research. It makes me wonder: Is there a disconnect between the media’s narrative of ‘anxiety and hesitation’ and the practical ways women are actually utilizing these tools behind the scenes?
Moving Past the Prompt Box. Lori and I talked quite a bit about the risk brands run when they rely too heavily on raw algorithmic outputs, namely that product and marketing copy across the industry looks the same. But getting an AI to deliver something with genuine substance takes time and precision. To protect a label’s distinct DNA, intellectual property, and brand voice, do founders need to start building proprietary ‘context blueprints’ for their AI agents to filter through, rather than just typing into a blank prompt box?
Ethical Infrastructure. We know that real change in luxury requires traceability, and advanced AI can audit supply chains from fiber to finished garment. However, the massive data centers required to power these models are creating severe environmental strains, ranging from the power grid to local water supply. How can the fashion industry, which is already one of the world’s most polluting sectors, reconcile using AI for sustainability goals when tech infrastructure is so resource-heavy?
Unreal Creative Concepts. AI is a great creative co-pilot for rapid ideation. But an algorithm can generate a highly complex visual concept that is completely impossible to construct, cost out, or manufacture at scale. How do we ensure AI complements the human creative process, rather than just churning out beautiful illusions that can never actually be produced?
Choosing the Un-Automated Path. While we obsess over how and when to use AI responsibly, I find myself wondering about the alternative: What happens if a brand chooses to sit this tech revolution out? To let things grow organically and slowly? Yes, it means facing scale bottlenecks and tighter margins without tech-driven optimization, but it also safeguards a label from the ‘sea of sameness.’ In a retail landscape racing toward algorithmic speed and efficiency, will opting out be the ultimate sign of luxury?
Join the Conversation
What questions do you have about how AI is going to affect your work and your life? Are you using it in your day-to-day operations yet, or are you still holding back? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
g-xo
