Ever wondered why AI thinks you need to look younger? In this episode, Gretchen Andrew, a former Google employee turned artist, exposes the disturbing truth about how beauty filters are literally reshaping our faces—and our self-worth.

We kick things off with Gretchen's bold pivot from Silicon Valley to the art world, where she's using robots, oil paint, and yes, glitter to reveal what beauty filters actually do to us. Her groundbreaking "FaceTune Portraits" physically apply AI beauty standards to paintings, creating violent scars and marks that show the hidden damage these "harmless" filters inflict on our identities.

Gretchen breaks down the dirty secret of AI training data—how algorithms learn beauty from the most biased corners of the internet and create a feedback loop that makes everyone chase the same impossible standard. Even Miss Universe contestants aren't "good enough" for AI filters, and men in their 50s are rescheduling meetings just to use Zoom's "touch up my appearance" feature!

From Hollywood actresses getting the same face-altering procedures to look good on small screens, to the shocking reality that social media may have incentivized us to provide facial recognition data for free, this conversation will change how you see every filter, every app, and every "enhanced" photo you encounter.

Whether you're tired of the algorithmic beauty trap or just want to understand why everyone's starting to look the same, this episode is essential listening. Gretchen's insights will make you question everything about digital beauty—and maybe even inspire you to embrace what makes you uniquely human.

“The question is: Do you want to look old and like yourself, or do you want to look like everybody else and look younger?” 

~ Gretchen Andrew

In This Episode:

-Leaving Silicon Valley for art

-AI vs. beauty standards

-The homogenization of beauty

-Gretchen's partnership with Andreessen Horowitz

-The real story behind AI beauty filters

-Ageism in the art and tech world

-How Gretchen uses social media for her work

And much more!

Resources:

-Free Guide to LinkedIn Job Hunting for the 40+ Crew - https://www.itgetslateearly.com/job-guide

Connect with Gretchen Andrew:

-Website: https://www.gretchenandrew.com/

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-andrew/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gretchenandrew/

Connect with Maureen Clough:

-LinkedIn: maureenwclough - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenwclough/

-Website: itgetslateearly.com - https://www.itgetslateearly.com/

-Instagram: @itgetslateearly - https://www.instagram.com/itgetslateearly/

-YouTube: @itgetslateearly - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGrHwk-y7ERaq7bCSjZYf1A?sub_confirmation=1

-Facebook: It Gets Late Early - https://www.facebook.com/people/It-gets-late-early/100088694515585/