Adobe Unveils Firefly: Advanced AI Model for High-Quality Images and New Media
Adobe Inc. has recently announced the release of its enhanced generative artificial intelligence model, Firefly, which promises to deliver higher-quality images and the ability to produce new types of media. This new edition of the AI model has been trained on a significantly larger dataset, encompassing about 70% more images. As a result, Firefly is expected to showcase an improved capacity to create incredibly realistic images, thereby narrowing the gap between Adobe and its competitors in terms of output quality.
Alexandru Costin, Adobe’s Vice President of Generative AI, explains that the latest version of Firefly incorporates new features for controlling and prompting AI generation. For instance, users can now upload an image to replicate its style, offering a more interactive and intuitive creative process. To safeguard the rights of artists and protect against copyright infringement, Adobe is implementing measures to keep a record of the reference images supplied by users.
Adobe, renowned for its creative software, is leveraging its vast library of stock photography to train AI models. By integrating this cutting-edge technology into widely used products like Photoshop, the company aims to gain an advantage over start-ups such as OpenAI. Following the general availability of the new AI tools, Adobe recently increased the prices of its software. On Tuesday, Adobe unveiled the latest versions of its AI tools at its annual user conference in Los Angeles.
The adoption of AI features in Photoshop has been exceptionally high, surpassing the average rate for major product launches, reveals Costin. He attributes this success to the seamless integration of Firefly models into creative workflows. This achievement has not gone unnoticed by investors, who have shown optimism in Adobe’s ability to benefit from AI, resulting in a 57% increase in the company’s shares this year.
In addition to image generation, Adobe’s Illustrator software now allows users to generate scalable computer graphics known as vectors through text prompts. The AI model powering this feature has also been trained using Adobe’s stock library, which boasts tens of millions of vector images. Another tool unveiled by Adobe enables users to create marketing materials such as posters, often developed using templates in Adobe Express. This feature competes with the offerings of Australian start-up Canva Inc.
It is worth noting that contributors to Adobe Stock receive an annual bonus when their content is used to train AI models. The payment method is based on the ingestion of new data, ensuring that stock contributors are fairly compensated even if their images are included in the training set of multiple models.
By continuously innovating and integrating AI technology into its products, Adobe is reaffirming its commitment to providing high-quality solutions to creative professionals worldwide. The introduction of Firefly and its advanced capabilities is set to revolutionize the creative process, empowering artists and enthusiasts to create stunning imagery and new forms of media. With its industry-leading products and dedication to protecting the rights of artists, Adobe remains at the forefront of the digital design landscape.
