Adobe’s Desperate Attempt to Regain Control of AI-Generated Content
In a move that reeks of desperation, Adobe is set to launch a free web-based app next year that allows creators to claim ownership of their work used in AI systems. But will it be enough to stem the tide of AI-generated content that’s threatening to upend the very fabric of the creative industry?
Since 2019, Adobe and other tech giants have been working on "Content Credentials," a digital stamp that supposedly proves the origin of images and videos. But with AI-generated content becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s clear that Adobe is trying to put a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.
TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, has already announced its support for Content Credentials, but it’s unclear if other major AI companies will follow suit. Adobe is banking on its app to become the industry standard, but it’s a tough sell when the company itself is profiting from the very same AI technology that’s disrupting the creative landscape.
The app will allow creators to affix Content Credentials to their work, indicating that they’re the authors and signaling whether they want their work to be used in AI training systems. But what’s to stop AI companies from simply ignoring these credentials and continuing to use the content without permission?
The use of data in AI training systems has sparked legal battles across multiple industries, with publishers like the New York Times suing OpenAI. But Adobe’s solution seems more like a half-measure than a comprehensive solution to the problem.
"We’re actively working to drive industry-wide adoption" of our standards, Adobe claims. But with no major AI companies on board, it’s unclear if Adobe’s app will be more than a footnote in the history of AI-generated content.
The Real Question: Will Adobe’s App Be Enough to Save the Creative Industry?
In a statement, Adobe’s chief strategy officer and executive vice president for design and emerging products, Scott Belsky, said that the app will "help creators preserve the integrity of their work, while enabling a new era of transparency and trust online." But will it be enough to stem the tide of AI-generated content that’s threatening to upend the very fabric of the creative industry?
Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Adobe’s app is a desperate attempt to regain control of a rapidly changing industry.
