Luxury in the Age of AI

What happens when artificial intelligence learns how to trigger desire and luxury brands follow its cues?In this episode, we explore how AI isn’t just transforming operations or marketing, it’s redefining taste itself. From curated algorithms to emotional manipulation, we break down the subtle shift from human intuition to machine-predicted craving, and what it means for the future of brand storytelling, exclusivity, and allure.The real question: when desire is generated by data, can anything still feel truly rare?We deep dive into Marc Abergel's (luxury exec based in Paris) his Op-Ed: Who Owns Desire Now - AI or Luxury Maisons?The Big Tech platforms that organize taste will soon control the $400 billion global luxury market, unless the Maisons reclaims their cultural sovereigntyThe op-ed argues that luxury Maisons are at risk of losing control over consumer desire as large technology companies and their AI systems become the primary interface for shopping. Historically, luxury was defined by personal interaction, curated experiences, and storytelling, but AI is now stepping in to guide purchasing decisions based on data and algorithms. This shift is problematic because AI prioritizes efficiency and popularity, fundamentally clashing with luxury's values of scarcity, mystique, and craftsmanship. The author urges luxury brands to develop their own "Cultural AI" to maintain authorship over their narratives and preserve the unique emotional resonance of luxury. Ultimately, the text suggests that reclaiming technological sovereignty is essential for luxury to shape its future rather than being defined by external algorithms.