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By:

Anjali Joshi

3 July 2026 at 7:55:47 am

Beauty and the Algorithm

Artificial intelligence is transforming skincare, but the industry’s most valuable asset remains irreducibly human. The beauty industry has rarely embraced technological change as enthusiastically as it is doing today. Artificial intelligence can now analyse skin with remarkable precision, sophisticated machines can target imperfections once thought difficult to treat, and aesthetic clinics increasingly resemble laboratories as much as salons. Yet amid this technological revolution, an...

Beauty and the Algorithm

Artificial intelligence is transforming skincare, but the industry’s most valuable asset remains irreducibly human. The beauty industry has rarely embraced technological change as enthusiastically as it is doing today. Artificial intelligence can now analyse skin with remarkable precision, sophisticated machines can target imperfections once thought difficult to treat, and aesthetic clinics increasingly resemble laboratories as much as salons. Yet amid this technological revolution, an enduring truth that remains is that beauty is as much a human experience as it is a scientific one. For decades, skincare revolved around conventional treatments, topical products and the trained judgement of experienced aestheticians. Today, that judgement is reinforced by an arsenal of advanced technologies. Treatments such as HydraFacials, laser therapy, radio-frequency procedures, microdermabrasion, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and LED light therapy have transformed the possibilities of non-invasive skincare. They cleanse more deeply, improve texture and pigmentation, and deliver increasingly consistent results. Clients now expect faster improvements with greater precision and fewer risks than ever before. Game Changer Artificial intelligence has accelerated this transformation. AI-powered imaging systems can examine the skin in microscopic detail, assessing moisture levels, oil production, pigmentation, wrinkles, enlarged pores, acne, blemishes and even estimating biological skin age. Perhaps AI's greatest contribution lies in personalisation. Skin is profoundly individual; no two people present identical concerns, lifestyles or biological characteristics. The era of standardised treatments is steadily giving way to customised care. By processing vast quantities of diagnostic data, AI can recommend tailored treatment plans, suggest suitable skincare products and even generate detailed aftercare protocols. The result is better outcomes for clients whose treatments are increasingly designed around their specific needs rather than generic categories. Predictive algorithms can flag the early signs of accelerated ageing, sun damage or pigmentation disorders, allowing preventive intervention rather than corrective treatment. Increasingly, AI is extending beyond the treatment room into clinic management itself, streamlining appointment scheduling, maintaining comprehensive client histories, automating follow-up care and even enabling preliminary online consultations that save time for both practitioners and clients. All this raises an obvious question. If machines can analyse, predict and recommend with increasing sophistication, what remains for the beauty professional to do? The answer is almost everything that matters. While technology excels at processing information, it cannot understand vulnerability. A machine may detect dehydration in the skin, but not the exhaustion that caused it. It may identify pigmentation, but not the insecurity that accompanies it. It may recommend a treatment protocol, but it cannot reassure an anxious client, interpret unspoken concerns or understand why someone seeks aesthetic care in the first place. Beauty treatments are seldom pursued solely to improve the complexion. They are also acts of restoration for confidence, wellbeing and self-esteem. Clients often enter a clinic carrying emotional burdens alongside cosmetic concerns. They seek empathy as much as expertise. It is here that the experienced aesthetician remains irreplaceable. Skilled practitioners read people. They adapt treatments to personalities, lifestyles and emotional expectations. They know when to advise patience instead of another procedure, when to temper unrealistic hopes, and when the most valuable service they provide is simply listening. Nor can technology replicate the therapeutic qualities of touch. The slow rhythm of a facial massage, the careful movements of trained hands and the quiet conversation that often accompanies treatment create an atmosphere of trust that no algorithm can manufacture. These moments are not incidental luxuries but are central to why many clients return. The experience itself - the sense of being cared for - often becomes as valuable as the visible improvement in the skin. This is why the future of beauty is unlikely to be a contest between machines and humans. It will instead be a partnership in which each performs the tasks it does best. AI brings precision, speed and data-driven insight. Advanced equipment expands the range of treatments available while improving safety and consistency. Human practitioners contribute judgement, sensitivity, experience and emotional intelligence - qualities that transform a clinical procedure into genuine care. The beauty industry will undoubtedly become even more technologically sophisticated in the years ahead. But its defining ingredient will remain stubbornly analogue. Machines may analyse the skin with astonishing accuracy, and algorithms may refine every treatment plan. Yet confidence cannot be programmed, trust cannot be automated and compassion cannot be digitised. The future of beauty, for all its algorithms, will still depend on the oldest technology of all - the human touch. (The writer is an aesthetician and founder, Midas Touch International Institute, Pune. Views personal.)

AI in Sperm Sorting: An Unbiased Decision for A Better Outcome

Artificial Intelligence or AI is revolutionising fertility treatments of the future. The inclusion of AI enhances the accuracy, efficiency, and objectivity of sperm selection, hence potentially improving fertility outcomes by leaps and bounds. Traditionally, sperm sorting through manual methods is subjective to judgments. Processes like centrifugation and swim-up methods are used to separate sperm based on motility and morphology. Although they are effective, they have their limitations, leading to human errors that affect the success rates of fertility treatment. For instance, studies have shown that traditional sperm sorting techniques can have variability in success rates, with reported live birth rates ranging between 15 per cent to 25 per cent per cycle depending on the method and quality of sperm. Hence the introduction of AI helps in maintaining consistency in evaluations of sperm, using the same data set for every sample which leads to better judgments.


Automation and Standardisation- Automation of sperm selection and also introduction of AI in the process have improved the results in ART. AI-assisted sperm selection improves the accuracy in choosing high-quality sperm for fertilisation purposes, and also, pregnancy and live birth rates might be improved. Technologies like Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection along with AI ensure the chances of pregnancies increase by about 10-20 per cent compared to the standard procedures. AI and Automation will decrease time taken to analyze sperm and increase opportunities to select better sperm with DNA integrity for better development and higher success rates in embryo selection. These processes ensure that the sperm selection process follows consistent criteria, reducing variability in outcomes caused by human error.


Analysing Complex Data for Better Outcomes- AI plays a crucial in improving IVF outcomes by analysing complex data and providing tailored recommendations. AI-driven tools and models such as those on SpOvum.ai point towards an opportunity to optimise ovarian stimulation decisions by assessing patient characteristics and follicle growth patterns. A study revealed that the use of AI in IVF improved egg yield and reduced medication costs. AI enables fertility specialists to make data-driven choices, improving overall IVF success rates and streamlining treatment processes.


Reducing Human Error- AI models can continuously learn and refine their performance by being trained on newer data. This adaptability ensures the technology remains unbiased and up-to-date with the latest scientific insights into sperm quality and fertility success rates. Studies have shown that AI-driven sperm sorting can decrease human-related errors by up to 25 per cent, improving sperm selection quality in terms of morphology and motility.


Reduction of Sperm Damage- The new AI-driven sperm sorting techniques also include microfluidic systems that are known to exhibit several advantages over the most commonly used conventional method, which is centrifugation. Traditional centrifugation methods, such as density gradient centrifugation, also cause severe oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation of the sperm because of the very high mechanical forces involved. The AI-infused microfluidic sorting minimises this damage significantly by involving gentler processes that mimic the natural pathway of sperm selection. The studies show that the process of microfluidic sorting decreases DNA fragmentation in sperm, which gives improved opportunities for success for IVF. For example, DNA fragmentation is 20 percent lower in sperm sorted using microfluidic processes than in traditional processing methods.


AI is bound to play an increasingly definitive role in fertility treatments, which will improve the outcomes for couples experiencing infertility.


(The author is a Co-Founder & CEO at SpOvum® Technologies. Views personal.)

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