Reebok and Syntilay have announced the release of a ‘first-ever’ shoe designed using artificial intelligence (AI).
Reebok co-founder Joe Foster has partnered with AI shoe company Syntilay to launch an AI-designed, 3D-printed shoe, which the creators claim is the first of its kind to be commercially available.
The shoe was developed using the AI software MidJourney and 3D-printing shoe factory Zellerfeld, known for collaborations with brands like Nike and Louis Vuitton.
Syntilay CEO Ben Weiss explained that the design team used AI prompts inspired by spaceships, boats, and the work of Syd Mead, a neo-futurist artist renowned for his designs in Blade Runner, Alien, and Tron.
The footwear, designed as sliders, is named ‘xplorer’ and is available in a range of colours, including orange, red, beige, black, and blue.
Each pair is custom-made to fit the customer’s foot. Syntilay asks customers to scan their feet at home using a smartphone. Once scanned, they can expect to receive their sliders within three weeks, printed at a factory in Germany and delivered directly to them.
The launch of Syntilay’s AI-designed shoe suggests that fully automated design and manufacturing processes for products may be closer than anticipated.
The rise of AI in creative industries raises questions about the future of designers as automation takes over traditional processes. While AI brings efficiency and innovation, critics argue that it lacks the human essence and brand DNA, fueling debate over whether it can truly replicate the nuances of human creativity.
John Kim, editor-in-chief of Sneaker News, expressed skepticism, telling USA Today: “A 100 percent AI-designed sneaker has limited potential because it lacks the human essence and brand DNA.”