Shutterstock, known as one of the primary repositories for stock images, is stepping up its game with new AI image editing capabilities. The company has integrated OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 model into its website to allow users to personalize and customize stock photos.
The Future of Stock Image Services
The rise of generative AI text-to-image models has raised concerns about the future of stock image services. With tools like Adobe Firefly 2, Midjourney, and OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, users can generate custom, realistic images on demand. This begs the question: What role do stock image services play in a world of AI-generated imagery?
Tiffany Gilron, Director of Product Marketing at Shutterstock, believes that the answer lies in allowing users to make stock images their own. By integrating AI image editing capabilities, Shutterstock’s library of 750 million assets becomes infinite, offering users the ability to find exactly what they envision.
The New AI Image Editing Features
Shutterstock’s new AI features, although still in beta, offer a wide range of editing tools. Users can add elements to existing stock photos, extend borders, change colors and placements, remove items, switch aspect ratios, and even apply text and shapes for sharing on social networks. The goal is to provide users with the tools to easily find and customize images that suit their needs.
According to Kareem Isa, Principal Product Manager at Shutterstock, the company is constantly exploring different partnerships and models to ensure the best output for users. The industry is evolving rapidly, and Shutterstock aims to stay at the forefront by integrating new models.
Integrating AI Responsibly
Shutterstock is taking a responsible and ethical approach to AI integration. The company’s AI features are restricted to editing existing imagery provided by its paid creative community, ensuring that contributors are properly compensated. Furthermore, Shutterstock is committed to protecting contributor IP and will not accept AI-generated or edited content as a submission for licensing.
Shutterstock is also a member of the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), a trade group focused on promoting transparency and truth in digital content. The company intends to integrate the CAI’s underlying Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) standard into its AI capabilities to further enhance the trustworthiness and authenticity of its content.
With its new AI image editing capabilities, Shutterstock aims to compete with popular image editing and graphic design programs like Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva. By offering users the ability to make stock images their own, Shutterstock is positioning itself as a versatile platform for both finding and customizing images to suit various marketing and creative needs.
