Firefly: Adobe is working on AI models for its own programmes

Adobe is an important part of the digital creative world, but has so far held back when it comes to AI-supported tools for creating images, videos or pieces of music. Adobe describes the two tools that have now been released as beta versions. They are limited to a certain number of registrations and are currently web-based. However, Adobe plans to integrate the creative tools directly into its own applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere, at a later date. You can register on the following website https://firefly.adobe.com/.

Adobe communicates openly about the data on which the models are trained. With other image generation tools, the sources of the data were often not communicated transparently and were sometimes questionable, which is why they were often criticised. I also summarised this comprehensive topic in an earlier report.

According to Adobe, the integrated data is either not protected by copyright, explicitly licensed for training or already included in its own stock library. The database is therefore limited. The tools cannot indiscriminately access the intellectual property of artists. Adobe is also planning to pay artists if they contribute training data. This will only happen at a later date.

Adobe is also planning a Photoshop function that will allow artists to train the AI system on their own employees. This will allow the tool to help artists create content in their own style. However, there is a risk of misuse here. Someone could also use the style of another artist and clone the work. For this reason, a solution is being researched and the function will also be introduced at a later date.

Adobe's AI tools should be easier to use than those of the competition. Up to now, a series of descriptive texts (so-called prompts) have been necessary to design an image. Adobe wants to provide ready-made options for aspect ratios, art styles and lighting. Something similar is already offered by Canva. The respective effects should also be able to be applied to images that have already been created. This means that image editing does not have to be painstakingly started from scratch every time, as is the case with prompts.

Functional examples for the various programmes were also mentioned. Illustrator should offer the option of generating a vectorised version from a hand-drawn sketch. The creation of colouring pictures will be available for Photoshop and Premiere will adjust the colour of image elements at the touch of a button. How exactly this will all look is still being planned.

The first two tools from Adobe are now available as beta versions. You don't need to have an Adobe Cloud subscription to use them. However, the number of people who can take part in the beta is limited. You can register with your name and email address and describe the reasons why you would like to test the version.