Artificial Intelligence and beauty industry are no more strange bedfellows

Shahnaz Husain

Over the last few decades, we have seen the heights of product innovation, using research and development of cosmetic techniques. Even ingredients from ancient texts are being combined with scientific techniques to formulate beauty products. We have also been through basic customized beauty care, formulating products for different needs. Through these years, branding has become important. But today, Artificial Intelligence is taking us into a different realm.

Indeed, Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to have taken us into the world of computers and robots, like scenes from a science fiction movie. Sophia, a Robot, who was created in 2015, not only resembles a human being, but is made of a material much like human skin, allowing her to show expressions of emotion. She can converse and even has a sense of humour! Perhaps, she can be programmed to provide beauty advice! However, the fact remains that she has to be programmed.

What is Artificial Intelligence? The basic and simple definition refers to “machines that imitate human behaviour.” But, can it imitate human intelligence? My experience has been in the realm of Ayurvedic Beauty and Health Care, where we have combined Ayurveda with advanced scientific techniques. We have seen the phenomenal growth of health and beauty care. We have also seen and experienced the heights of product innovations. Programming has helped to prepare a database that can take many individual characteristics into account, so that it is possible to manufacture a beauty product that is specifically meant for an individual, rather than only conforming to broader specifications, like “skin type.” Artificial Intelligence has made it possible to find a custom made product for each individual.

I had started preparing a database nearly five decades ago, when I started my first herbal salon. I followed customized beauty care at the client card level. The details of each client are noted down in the Client Card. Apart from basic details, the details of allergies, past history, past treatments and current treatments are all recorded. But now, with computer programming immense databases are being created.

Beauty brands are adopting Artificial Intelligence to create personalised products that are specifically tailored for customers. The “search” for the products must be detailed and specific, so that the customer can make the connection among the different categories of products and select the best suited product. The data bases will have to be programmed to take many other distinctions into account, like geographical region, climate, skin colour, ethnic backgrounds and so on. The customer can refer to the virtual card, fill in the details and search for a custom based product online.

With the help of Artificial Intelligence, the customer may be able to find a skin profile that is totally personalised and unique to her/him. If such detailed data is taken into account by product developers, it may be possible to make similar products, with or without a particular ingredient, which may be suited to one person, but not to another.

It seems the possibilities are limitless, more so when I think of combining our Ayurvedic Inheritance with Artificial Intelligence. Ayurvedic texts contain the details of a staggering number of plant products and other natural substances, along with their medicinal properties, their methods of collection and extraction, as well as specific combinations. Today, we must return to the future, because our future lies in turning the clock back to natural living and Ayurvedic Inheritance, taking advantage of Artificial Intelligence. In a world dominated by Artificial Intelligence, Ayurvedic Inheritance is India’s gift to the world.

Shahnaz Husain is CMD, Shahnaz Husain group