December 12, 2022

Adobe Stock Accepts Generative Content and Meets Backlash

Last week, Adobe announced its plans to open its Adobe Stock platform for stock visual content to AI-generated material.

This decision marks an important moment for the rise of generative content, which has flourished as an emerging market in 2022.

This blog discusses the decision, its backlash, and the implications for the market.

Adobe Stock Opens Its Platform to Generative Content

Previously, Adobe had banned this content from its platform, allowing only material that was uploaded by human creators to be sold as stock content.

This move is a real watershed in the rise of generative content, signaling that major enterprise players are on the move when it comes to incorporating AI-generated content into their business models.

However, this trend is not without its pushback.

Adobe has gone to some lengths to try and placate the critics of AI art.

For instance, Adobe requires all submissions to be labeled and tagged as ‘generative AI’ so buyers are aware the content was not made by a human or captured by a camera.

Additionally, all images must be submitted as illustrations rather than photographs.

Any content that depicts real people must be cleared through the use of property and model releases.

AI Art and Its Critics

Nevertheless, Adobe has been met with a storm of criticism from opponents of AI-generated content.

With artists principally among them, these critics argue that monetizing generated content will destroy the ability of stock photographers and illustrators to make a living.

And while some artists who have experience with AI will soon flock to Adobe’s platform to release images, established artists will resist the change.

There is no doubt that the rise of generative content will automate a considerable amount of human creative labor.

Aragon expects that by the end of the decade, more than half of the content consumed online will have been produced by AI.

For these reasons it is natural to expect backlash from career artists and creators who have dedicated their time to learning a skillset.

Nevertheless, Aragon feels that there is room for creators to adapt to these changes, looking to AI as a tool rather than a replacement.

In many ways, creators and artists are the best-positioned to take advantage of these new technologies.

Bottom Line

The backlash against generative content from artists and others concerned about having their labor replaced does not seem to be slowing down its enterprise adoption.

Adobe’s move shows that the race is on to incorporate the cost-saving potential of generative content into the enterprise, and that many will need to adapt to this new future.

This blog is a part of the Content AI blog series by Aragon Research’s Analyst, Adam Pease.

Missed the previous installments? Catch up here:

Adobe Stock Accepts Generative Content and Meets Backlash