Fancy footwear

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing has become widespread. Shoemaker Puma has used the technology to help design one of its new sneaker models called Inverse.

AI generated innovative and unconventional concepts, which Puma’s design team refined for feasibility, functionality and style, Footwear News reports. The finished product, however, looks ordinary and still has a midsole cage plus Puma’s trademark ProFoam cushioning that provides superior responsiveness, comfort and energy return, making it ideal for running and high-performance activities.

Inverse pales in comparison, however, to the non-AI-aided design of Adidas’ new product.

Instead of AI, Adidas tapped avant-garde fashion brand AVAVAV to design a twist to the footwear giant’s Superstar sneaker model.

The $250 shoe accessory debuted at the Milan Fashion Week as part of AVAVAV’s 2025 collection. Called “Superfingers,” the detachable rubber toes mimic the decidedly uncool barefoot shoes made for running, New York Post (NYP) reports.

Superfingers copies the AVAVAV brand’s four-finger logo seen on its gloves, hats and boots.

The “added appendage” failed to impress some Adidas fans, however, who called it “ugly,” “not fashion” and “not cool.”

AVAVAV is not worried though as “some sizes are already sold out online,” according to NYP.