Fans of America’s Next Top Model are reacting with disbelief after Tyra Banks’ representative suggested that a future season of the long-running reality competition could include an artificial intelligence-generated contestant.
The possibility of an America’s Next Top Model AI contestant has quickly become one of the franchise’s most talked-about developments in years.
The speculation comes as Banks continues developing a long-discussed revival of America’s Next Top Model, with one representative telling Entertainment Weekly that an AI competitor is “not outside the realm of possibility.”
The comment quickly sparked debate online, with many longtime viewers questioning whether the idea fits the spirit of the series.
Fans struggle to imagine an America’s Next Top Model AI contestant
The strongest reaction across social media was simple disbelief.
“I refuse to believe or even feel any type of way about this before a reliable source confirms this because there’s no way I’m believing this lmao,” one fan wrote on Reddit.
Others tried to imagine how such a twist might actually work if it ever made it to television.
“If anything, I can see them using it v humans to show human models are more versatile and realistic,” another viewer suggested. “That’s the only way I can see it working.”
That same commenter joked that producers might have the AI model mysteriously outperform everyone for a week just to increase the drama before the competition continued overseas.
Some fans focused less on the logistics and more on the absurdity of the concept.
“Imagine you are standing alone in the finale with an imaginary AI contestant and you lose to it 💔,” one Reddit user wrote.
Another responded simply: “My 13th reason.”
Others compared the idea to other recent reality television stunts, with one commenter saying it felt like “either a joke or a AINSLEY Big Brother situation.”
Tyra Banks’ representative floated the idea of an America’s Next Top Model AI contestant
The conversation began after Entertainment Weekly contacted Banks’ team regarding AI-generated models that had appeared in promotional images for her SMiZE & DREAM ice cream brand before several of those posts were later removed.
In response, Banks’ representative also discussed the future of America’s Next Top Model.
“What happens when America’s Next Top Model returns? Maybe cycle 25 features an AI contestant,” the representative told Entertainment Weekly.
The representative also emphasized that Banks still believes human models would ultimately have the advantage.
“When it comes to creativity, personality, presence, and the ability to truly connect with people, Ms. Banks would still bet on the humans,” the representative said.
Addressing the broader use of AI, the representative said Banks has continued hiring human models for her business and argued that AI should be viewed as another creative tool rather than a replacement for people.
Revival has been in the works for years
Banks first revealed earlier this year in Netflix’s Reality Check docuseries that she is actively working to revive America’s Next Top Model for cycle 25.
The original series aired from 2003 through 2018 and became one of reality television’s defining competition shows. In recent years, however, many moments from the program have been reexamined by fans, particularly during the pandemic.
Critics pointed to storylines involving body-shaming, pressure placed on contestants to alter their appearance, and photo shoots in which contestants portrayed people of other races while wearing dark makeup.
Banks later filed a lawsuit against the directors and production company behind Reality Check, alleging the documentary created a false narrative through selective editing and omitted important context.
While it’s still unclear what cycle 25 will ultimately look like, one thing appears certain: if an AI contestant ever enters the competition, many longtime America’s Next Top Model fans aren’t convinced they’ll be cheering from the sidelines.
