Draft:Aragon AI

Aragon AI

Aragon AI is a generative artificial intelligence program and service that was created by Wesley Tian and Akhil Nadendla. It uses prompt engineering to generate photos for users.

The tool was first launched in October 2022 and was founded by Wesley Tian and Akhil Nadendla. Wesley told Business Insider that the company is currently profitable, generating over $10 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) with a lean team of 11 employees. Users create AI professional headshots by visiting their main website and uploading at least 6 photos.

Since its first launch, Aragon AI has served over 1.2 million users, including a number of Fortune 500 companies. The company is backed by prominent investors such as Neo, Sequoia Scout, and founders of companies like Vanta and DocSend.

History

The company was founded by Wesley Tian and Akhil Nadendla in San Francisco, California. In early April 2023, they were able to raise over $625,000 in funding through an accelerator/incubator round. They then joined Neo as part of their accelerator program.

Within 4 months of their launch, they were able to reach $1 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). Early 2025, Aragon AI surpassed $10 million in ARR and was valued at $4.5 million.

Model Versions

Early 2023, they first introduced their AI headshot generator which allows users to upload their selfies and receive professional-quality headshots. In April 2025, the company introduced the Ramirez Architecture, described as its most significant AI upgrade to date. This model introduced advancements in skin texture fidelity, natural rendering of hands, and more lifelike facial expressions.

Version/Update	Release Date	Description
Initial AI Headshot Generator	February 2023	Launch of the first AI-powered headshot generator
High-Resolution Output	August 2023	Introduced high-resolution headshots at 2048×2560 pixels, suitable for both digital and print applications.
Ramirez Architecture	April 2025	Released the Ramirez Architecture, a significant AI model upgrade enhancing skin texture fidelity, natural hand rendering, and lifelike facial expressions.
“Remix” Functionality	May 2025	Added the ability for users to re-render existing headshots with different backgrounds, outfits, and expressions without needing to upload new photos.

Functionality

Aragon AI is accessible through their main website. When creating their photos, users are first prompted to answer a series of questions on their: Gender, Age, Hair Color, Ethnicity, and Body Type. After completing the questionnaire, users are instructed to upload a minimum of 6 photos or selfies. Once photos have been uploaded, Aragon's system processes the photos, typically delivering results within 30 minutes to 90 minutes.

Uses

Aragon's co-founder, Wesley Tian, told Business insider about the evolution of Aragon AI. Initially, the company offered AI-generated avatars in various styles, including a Linkedin pack. After gathering and analyzing user feedback, they decided to place their focus on professional headshots, enabling users to create high-quality images without booking a photoshoot.

Professional Adoption and Industry Use

Aragon AI has been used by professionals across various industries for generating high-quality headshots efficiently:

• Corporate and Team Profiles: Businesses have utilized Aragon AI to create cohesive and professional images for team profiles and marketing materials.
• Real Estate Professionals: Real estate agents have adopted Aragon AI to produce polished headshots for listings and promotional content, streamlining their branding efforts.
• Healthcare and Legal Sectors: Professionals in healthcare and law have used Aragon AI to generate headshots that meet the formal standards required in their fields.

Public Reception and Critiques

While Aragon AI has been praised for its convenience and quality, it has also faced a number of critiques:

• Impact on Traditional Photography:

Aragon offers a cost-effective and efficient alternative to conventional headshot photography, producing photos from user-submitted selfies. This innovation has raised concerns among professional photographers about the potenital decline in demand for these traditional services. A portrait photographer named Ariane Sherine, a professional photographer, expressed her apprehension after reviewing Aragon AI, noting its proficiency in generating high-quality headshots at a fraction of the cost and time required by human photographers. She remarked, "Aragon.AI's proficiency is frightening, and it's only going to get better as time goes on," highlighting the potential threat to traditional photography jobs."

• Public Reception and Ethical Considerations

The public response to AI-generated headshots has been mixed. While many appreciate the accessibility and convenience, others raise ethical concerns regarding the authenticity and originality of AI-produced images.

Critics argue that AI tools like Aragon AI may inadvertently homogenize visual representations, leading to a lack of diversity and personal touch that human photographers typically provide. Additionally, there are apprehensions about data privacy and the potential misuse of personal images uploaded to AI platforms.

Despite these concerns, proponents of AI-generated photography emphasize its democratizing effect, enabling individuals from various backgrounds to obtain professional-quality headshots without the barriers of cost or location. This shift is seen as an evolution in the photography industry, where AI serves as a complementary tool rather than a complete replacement for human creativity.