The term refers to a category of software or online tools purported to utilize artificial intelligence to remove clothing from images. These tools often advertise the ability to generate nude or partially nude images based on an existing photograph of a clothed individual. Functionally, they attempt to reconstruct what might lie beneath the clothing using algorithms trained on large datasets of human anatomy and fabric textures.
The proliferation of such applications raises significant ethical and legal concerns. The creation and distribution of simulated nude images without consent is a serious violation of privacy and can constitute sexual harassment or abuse. Historically, altering images to depict individuals in a false or demeaning light has been used for malicious purposes, and these technologies amplify the potential for harm.