Will AI replace models?
Updated
Models score 36 of 100 for AI exposure. 52% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 21% today and speed up another 27%.
- 21% AI can do it
- 27% AI helps
- 52% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Lower than 52% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 10 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 2 of them today, speeds up 3 and leaves 5 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Record rates of pay and durations of jobs on vouchers. Recording pay rates and durations is routine transcription and data entry. | 70% AI can do it |
| Report job completions to agencies and obtain information about future appointments. Routine completion reports and appointment queries are largely templated messages. | 60% AI can do it |
| Gather information from agents concerning the pay, dates, times, provisions, and lengths of jobs. Email and scheduling exchanges with agents can be drafted and tracked by AI. | 55% AI helps |
| Work closely with photographers, fashion coordinators, directors, producers, stylists, make-up artists, other models, and clients to produce the desired looks, and to finish photo shoots on schedule. AI can help scheduling and mood boards, but collaboration is live and in person. | 30% AI helps |
| Assemble and maintain portfolios, print composite cards, and travel to go-sees to obtain jobs. AI can help curate portfolios, but travel and printing cards are physical. | 25% AI helps |
| Follow strict routines of diet, sleep, and exercise to maintain appearance. AI can plan routines, but the model must personally follow them. | 10% Needs a person |
| Dress in sample or completed garments, and select accessories. Dressing in garments is physical; AI only suggests accessory combinations. | 10% Needs a person |
| Apply makeup to face and style hair to enhance appearance, considering such factors as color, camera techniques, and facial features. Applying makeup and styling hair is hands-on work on a live person. | 5% Needs a person |
| Pose for artists and photographers. Posing for artists and photographers needs live physical presence. | 4% Needs a person |
| Pose as directed, or strike suitable interpretive poses for promoting and selling merchandise or fashions during appearances, filming, or photo sessions. Striking poses on set or on stage requires the model's body. | 4% Needs a person |
How models compare
All occupations (923)
Sales and related (22)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $48,470 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 3,780 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- -2.1% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Keep a booking and voucher log in Microsoft Excel
- Pose live for photographers and fashion coordinators on set
- Apply makeup and style hair for camera tests
- Build portfolios and composite cards for go-see visits
- Send agency job completion reports from Microsoft Word
- Present lookbooks and mood boards in Microsoft PowerPoint
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about models and AI
Will models be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 3 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly recording pay rates and durations on vouchers and sending routine job completion reports to agencies. Posing, makeup, and wearing garments stay with models because they need a live person on set.
Will AI take over modeling?
AI can already do 21% of the task time for models and speeds up another 27%. People still do 52% of it. The US has 3,780 model jobs, with a projected change of -2.1% from 2024 to 2034.
Which tasks will AI take over for models?
Recording pay rates and durations on vouchers scores 70 for exposure, since it is routine data entry. Routine job completion reports to agencies score 60, because they are largely templated messages. Agent exchanges about pay, dates, and job lengths score 55, since AI can draft and track the emails and scheduling.
Which tasks stay human for models?
Posing for artists and photographers scores 4 for exposure, since it needs live physical presence. Applying makeup and styling hair scores 5, because it is hands-on work on a live person. Dressing in sample garments scores 10, since AI only suggests accessory combinations. These human tasks carry 52% of task weight.
How can models stay valuable as AI spreads?
Keep the live work and hand the paperwork to AI. Pose on set, do makeup for camera tests, and keep portfolios and composite cards current for go-sees. Track vouchers in Microsoft Excel, draft agency replies in Microsoft Word, and check every AI draft before it goes out.
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