Building on its digital transformation—from bulky 1960s colorbooks to today’s cloud-based digital color libraries—Pantone is tapping AI to deliver an interactive color-picking experience.
On Wednesday, the color forecasting giant released a beta version of the Pantone Palette Generator, built on Microsoft Azure OpenAI. The tool is accessed through Pantone Connect, a digital platform used by designers to manage and share over 15,000 colors found in more than a dozen libraries.
How Pantone’s AI Tool Works
The chat-based interface is billed as a way to “streamline color decision-making and communication.” The Palette Generator draws on the Pantone Color Institute’s color research and trend forecasts going back decades.
Press materials suggest prompts such as “Show me colors that evoke optimism in Gen Z” or “Build a palette inspired by 1970s fashion editorials.” Given that it’s November 4, election eve, as I write this story, I tested out the color generator with prompts to forecast the mood in New York City’s closely watched mayoral race.
To be clear, Pantone’s generator doesn’t use color trends to predict the future—or election results. Rather, it’s an inspirational tool that draws on human trend analysis, synthesizing information for designers seeking inspired palettes.
Testing The Tool On New York City’s Mayoral Race
First up in creating a color palette for the New York City mayoral race: Candidate Zohran Mamdani.
The prompt: “Show me colors that match the energy of Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign in New York City.”
The generator delivered a palette titled “Bold Borough Momentum,” consisting of two rich reds paired with a chartreuse, a dark lime shade, and one bright blue.
“The campaign of Zohran Mamdani in New York City reflects vibrant energy, diversity, and passion for progress and representation,” the generator responded. “To encapsulate this warmth and dynamism, I have drawn upon the themes, colors, and sentiments from compelling articles about New York’s energetic atmospheres and campaign-inspired concepts.”
The program cited sources used for the palette, including Pantone’s February 2025 article, “Womenswear Runway Highlights – New York City” and from other Pantone reports on New York Fashion Week.
The summary: “This palette mirrors the boldness and brightness of change that Mamdani’s campaign seems to embody. Poppy Red and Molten Lava represent passion and the fiery determination to make New York an inclusive place; Bright Chartreuse and Golden Lime symbolize optimism, growth, and grassroots momentum; while Marina signifies depth and connection across diverse communities.”
How Does Cuomo’s Color Palette Compare?
Next up: Mamdani’s main contender, former New York State governor Andrew Cuomo.
The prompt: “Show me colors that match the energy of Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral campaign in New York City.”
Strikingly different than Mamdani’s colors, Cuomo’s palette, titled “Resilient Leadership Tones,” consisted of far more subdued shades: Peat, a dark brown-edging-to black hue; the terracotta-colored Sierra; Arctic Seal, a cool purple-gray; Golden Olive, a warm shade of olive green blushed with a golden undertone; and Misted Marigold, a standout brighter hue that embodies sun-drenched warmth.
“The campaign of former governor Andrew Cuomo resonates with strong leadership, resilience, and a blend of a classic but progressive approach to politics,” the generator stated. “Andrew Cuomo’s campaign carries a sense of experienced leadership, resilience, and connection to the historical and emotional essence of New York City.”
It cited a March 2025 Pantone article detailing a “powerful shift” to uncovering “profound, rich shades that resonate with the raw resilience of our environment.” Also: “Key Color Messages” for New York Fashion Week, Spring/Summer 2026.
The summary: “This palette was crafted to represent Andrew Cuomo’s campaign sentiments: Peat and Sierra symbolize grounded foundations and rich experience; Arctic Seal represents sophistication in leadership through calm determination; Golden Olive signifies prosperity and growth for strong governance; while Misted Marigold adds a sense of optimism and approachable brightness, appealing to a unified New York City vision.”
Reading the Results In Color
So there you have it—the color palette winner (his mayoral victory announced as I type) is Zohran Mamdani, a seemingly unbeatable combination of Molten Lava, Poppy Red, Bright Chartreuse, Golden Lime and Marina.
Perhaps the brilliance of Pantone’s new Palette Generator is just that—how widely and for how many different applications it can be used. Even for New York City’s hotly contested mayoral race.