As a customer experience management agency, we're constantly looking for new ways to include creativity and innovation in our clients' projects. So, when we heard about Adobe's new AI image generator, Adobe Firefly, we were intrigued. Adobe Firefly comes with the promise to make the creative process of image creation more efficient. But what we love about it the most is that it's also built with ethics and respect for artists and creators in mind.
Explore with us what AI generated images are and how AI image generators work as we take a closer look at Adobe Firefly. Plus, we’ll hear what Lucas Goycoolea Molina, Business Developer from Adobe, had to say about their new AI.
What are AI generated images?
If all the news about AI and their image creation have got you wondering “what are AI generated images?”, you’ve come to the right place to find out.
So, before we dive into what Adobe Firefly is all about, let's first take a step back and talk about AI-generated images in general. Simply put, AI-generated images are digital images that have been created using artificial intelligence algorithms rather than by human hands. These algorithms are designed to mimic the way human brains process visual information, allowing them to generate images that look like they were created by humans.
How AI image generators work.
But how do these algorithms work exactly? There are several different types of AI image generators, but most of them work by training a neural network on a large dataset of existing images. The neural network then uses this data to learn the patterns and structures that make up these images, and it can use this knowledge to create new images that fit within the same visual style.
One of the challenges of creating AI-generated images is making sure that they don't look too repetitive or generic. To address this, some AI image generators use what's called a "latent space" – essentially a set of variables that can be manipulated to generate a wide range of unique images. By tweaking these variables, designers can create images that have a particular look or feel while still being unique.
What is Adobe Firefly?
Now that we've covered the basics of AI image creation, let's talk about Firefly Adobe. According to Adobe, it’s a "family of new creative generative AI" that is designed to help artists and designers create images that are both unique and visually stunning.
One of the unique features of Adobe Firefly is its ability to generate images that are "grounded in reality." This means that the images it generates are based on real-world objects and textures, rather than being completely abstract or surreal. This gives designers more control over the look and feel of their creations, while still allowing them to experiment and push boundaries.
At Conexio, we had the opportunity to chat with Lucas Goycoolea Molina, Enterprise Sr. Business Development Latin America Team Lead of Adobe, who said:
“Artificial Intelligence is here to stay and help us all to make our day-to-day life easier. With Adobe Firefly, we will all have new ways to devise, create and communicate in a much faster and more creative way; which is why it will generate a change when it comes to working, optimizing the time of a complete team of creatives, to later be able to deliver a better experience to customers both in the field of advertising, and in web browsing, and not only in images, but also in texts, in a matter of seconds.”
On another note, we asked him what this new AI would mean for other Adobe platforms and tools: will Adobe Firefly be able to integrate with software platforms such as the Adobe Experience Platform or Adobe’s Real-Time CDP? What about graphic design tools like Photoshop and Illustrator?
Fortunately, he stated that not only will integration with the Adobe Experience Cloud and the Adobe Creative Cloud be possible but taking advantage of this integration “will be crucial”. Suffice it to say, we’re thrilled to hear about this, and we can’t wait to make Adobe Firefly a part of our projects!
Adobe, at the center of responsible innovation.
Of course, with any new technology, there are always concerns about how it will be used and whether it could be misused. That's why Adobe has made a concerted effort to ensure that Adobe Firefly is built with ethics and responsibility in mind.
One of the ways that Adobe is addressing these concerns is by being transparent about how the technology works. In a blog post, Adobe explained that "transparency and openness are core principles" of their approach to AI. They're committed to explaining how their algorithms work, and to being upfront about the limitations and biases that may exist in their technology.
But why is ethical AI development so important? As AI technology continues to advance, there are growing concerns about the impact it will have on society. From job displacement to privacy concerns to ethical issues around the use of AI in areas like law enforcement, there are many complex questions that need to be addressed. By developing AI technologies that are grounded in ethics and responsibility, companies like Adobe are taking an important step towards ensuring that these technologies are used in ways that benefit society as a whole.
Building for artists.
At the heart of Adobe Firefly's ethical approach is a deep respect for the artists and creators who use it. Unlike some other AI image generators, this one is designed to respect creators' choices and control. In fact, Adobe has stated that they "believe that artists should have ultimate control over their creations." To that end, with Firefly Adobe offers a variety of features that allow designers to fine-tune their creations and ensure that they're expressing their own unique vision.
At the same time, it allows users to choose the level of involvement they want in the image creation process, from setting parameters and adjusting settings to letting the AI take over entirely. In other words, Adobe Firefly allows designers to adjust the level of randomness in their creations, so they can have more or less control over the final output. It also allows them to experiment with different combinations of colors, textures, and other visual elements, so they can create truly unique and eye-catching images.
Furthermore, we spoke with Peitong Chen, who is an Experience Designer for AI and ML at Adobe. Aside from their ethical approach to building Adobe Firefly, she told us that Adobe's mission is to make creativity available for all:
"Generative AI will greatly evolve how our user imagines and creates. By making creativity accessible to everyone through the unlimited potential offered by generative technology and improved user experience, I hope Firefly could unleash a wealth of innovative ideas and empower creators in their creative journey".
Conclusion
All in all, we're excited to see Adobe Firefly’s potential to push the boundaries of image generation and creativity. But more than that, we’re heartened (and super proud to be an Adobe Silver Partner) by the company’s commitment to ethical and responsible AI development. By focusing on transparency, respect for artists and creators, and a deep commitment to ethics and responsibility, Adobe is setting an example for other companies to follow. We can't wait to see what artists and creators will be able to achieve with this groundbreaking new technology.
