The Met Gala has witnessed it all Rihanna posing as the Pope, Jared Leto holding his head, and Kim Kardashian stuffed into Marilyn Monroe’s dress. But 2025 threw a curve that no one saw coming.
This year, AI didn’t only inspire the designs. It became the designer. The model. The pet. The meme. AI didn’t show up to the Met Gala; it owned the place.
From fake-back divas to robotic catwalk companions, here’s how artificial intelligence evolved from behind-the-scenes code to front-page spectacle.
Katy Perry Didn’t Attend, but Her AI Clone Did
Imagine browsing through your feed and catching sight of Katy Perry in a futuristic metallic evening dress and then another of her draped in LED-lit flower art. The press reshared. Vogue referred to it as a highlight. TikTok stylists were swooning.
And then there was the twist: she never appeared.
The photos were all created by fans using AI tools such as Midjourney and DALL·E. They were so realistic, so in-theme, and so shareable that they deceived not only fans but fashion experts as well.
Katy commented on Instagram, “I couldn’t make it to the Met, but it looks like AI me had a blast.”
The experience crossed the boundary between cyberspace and reality and showed us one thing: AI doesn’t require a seat to steal the show.
Mona Patel Walked With a Robot Dog and Left People Speechless
Indian-American businesswoman Mona Patel did more than dress up in high fashion; she brought it, literally. Dressed in a structural Thom Browne dress, Vector, a robotic dog with expressive LED eyes and gestures, accompanied her.
Vector blinked, wagged, and strutted at her side like a runway pro.
Social media erupted with
“Who brought the robot?!” “Mona Patel and Vector are giving sci-fi couture.”
Last year, she wowed in a butterfly dress with robotic wings. This year, she doubled down on the marriage of high-end and robotics.
Her message was clear as day: the future of fashion isn’t just cloth. It’s code, circuits, and charisma.
AI Wasn’t Helping Designers This Time; It Was the Designer
AI is no longer behind the scenes; it’s center stage. At the Met Gala 2025, it wasn’t assisting designers but was the designer.
From software such as Midjourney and Mercer producing couture-level ideas to virtual fashion houses like The Fabricant making collections with zero fabric, AI is now defining how fashion is envisioned, styled, and even worn.
Big brands are already on board: Gucci employs AI for prediction, Zara for stock, and designers on TikTok are creating viral styles with nothing but prompts. This year, AI didn’t help. It wrote the moment.
Stats That Prove AI Isn’t Playing Dress-Up
- 73% of fashion leaders will boost AI investment in 2025, according to McKinsey.
- 65% of Gen Z consumers prefer AI-tailored experiences, according to Statista.
- AI influencers such as Lil Miquela and Shudu Gram are signing deals with leading brands, according to VistaSocial.
- Virtual fashion brands are breaking into collections without any physical apparel involved, according to IdeaUsher.
AI at the Met Gala 2025
| AI Moment | Real or AI? | Platform or Tech Used | Why It Went Viral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pushing the theme beyond reality sparked the metaverse fashion conversation. | 100% AI-generated | Midjourney, DALL·E, Runway | It looked too real and even fooled fashion media outlets and fans. |
| Mona Patel’s robotic dog ‘Vector’ | 100% Real AI hardware | Custom robotics with embedded AI gestures | Let everyday users reimagine celeb looks that blew up on TikTok and Reels. |
| Fan-made AI edits of Zendaya, Doja Cat, Timothée Chalamet | AI-generated | NightCafe, Photoshop AI, Instagram filters | Pushing the theme beyond reality sparked the metaverse fashion conversation. |
| AI-generated outfits inspired by the “Garden of Time” theme | Mixed (real and virtual) | Fashable, The Fabricant, Runway | Pushed the theme beyond reality sparked the metaverse fashion conversation. |
| AI stylists suggesting Met Gala looks to users | Real tools | Stitch Fix AI, Lyst AI, ChatGPT plugins | Fans used AI to “dress like the stars” in real-time, boosting engagement online. |
So… Did AI Crash the Met Gala? Or Was It the Star of the Show?
Let’s face it, AI didn’t infiltrate quietly. It stormed the Met Gala.
From Katy Perry’s hyperreal AI clone to Mona Patel’s robotic dog, AI wasn’t just there; it was hard to ignore. It didn’t wait for an invitation from a designer. It didn’t knock on the door to ask if it could stroll the carpet. Simply materialized on screens, in conversation, and throughout every algorithm.
And here’s the kicker: it beat out real celebrities. Fake photos of Katy beat out real ones on Instagram. Mona’s robot dog received more media coverage than some A-listers. AI fan edit versions of Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet racked up more TikTok views than official red carpet shots.
In the court of public opinion and on the internet, AI was not a guest. It was the headliner.
This tech-driven fashion moment wasn’t just limited to the Met. Platforms like Pinterest are already reshaping how we discover style. Check out our breakdown of Pinterest’s AI-powered fashion search to see where visual fashion is headed next.
AI Walked In Like It Owned the Met Gala and maybe it did
The Met Gala has always been a platform for storytelling, excess, and change. But in 2025, it told a tale that no one was prepared for: a future where AI is not only a tool but also a creative power, a celebrity, and perhaps even a designer of culture itself.
Katy Perry’s AI doppelganger didn’t only fool the internet; it revealed how easily perception distorts when technology goes couture. Mona Patel’s robotic friend didn’t only turn heads; it posed a deeper question: What happens when machines become human expressions?
This wasn’t merely about fashion or technology. It was about identity. Presence. Performance. And in that regard, AI didn’t crash the party.
AI just transformed the meaning of being a guest.
