Introducing the Era of AI-Powered Photoshop: Creating Magical Edits and Raising Concerns about Deepfakes
June 16, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
Images of Geoffrey A. Fowler have been transformed using the new AI capability in Adobe Photoshop. Thanks to this innovative feature, anyone can now easily edit images without the need for complex photo editing software.
In a recent experiment, we used the AI version of Adobe Photoshop to turn a regular portrait into something extraordinary. It only took a few seconds. With a simple prompt of “add a clown wig,” the AI generated a realistic and vibrant rainbow wig that seamlessly blended with the surroundings.
The emergence of AI in Photoshop has brought about a new era, where image editing can be done in sophisticated and sometimes alarming ways, even without expertise in complex software. While it’s not yet perfect and may produce some unexpected results, it enables anyone to achieve creative and playful edits. However, this AI tool also raises concerns about the potential for manipulation and exploitation. This brings us back to the question raised by Photoshop over 30 years ago: Can we trust what we see?
To give you a glimpse of what the future holds for your photos, both captured and viewed, we have been testing a beta version of Photoshop with its new AI function called “generative fill.” This feature is Adobe’s response to the growing number of AI image-creation tools that threaten to render Photoshop obsolete. With generative fill, users can easily modify specific parts of existing images, opening up a whole new level of image manipulation. This goes beyond simple touch-ups and enhancements offered by existing AI tools from Google and other platforms.
But here’s the concern: Does AI turn Photoshop into a powerful tool for creating “deepfakes”? Our experiments with the AI capabilities in Photoshop revealed some limitations, both inherent in the technology and intentionally built into the software. These limitations prevent some worst-case scenarios of AI-powered image manipulation, at least for now.
So, what can AI-powered Photoshop do, and what are its limitations?
Generative fill requires an internet connection as it sends information to Adobe’s AI for processing. By providing a prompt, selecting the area to replace, and a portion of the original image to blend in, generative fill excels at removing objects from backgrounds. The AI can generate clouds, trees, or even entire cityscapes to seamlessly fill the void. It’s like erasing unwanted memories from your vacation photos or even eradicating people from your images effortlessly.
Removing people from images, even with complex backgrounds, is a breeze with this AI tool.
Moreover, generative fill can add new objects that were never there, like the giant robot in our sunset photo. This feature saves countless hours compared to traditional Photoshop techniques that involve cutting, layering, and adjusting lighting and color.
While you may not have a need to add a giant robot to your photos, this feature offers artists and photographers a creative jump-start and a chance to explore imaginative ideas. It’s particularly delightful for children, who can easily experiment with the endless possibilities.
What’s truly impressive is the AI’s keen awareness of the image’s context. It takes into account factors like lighting, shadows, reflections, and angles to ensure that the modifications blend seamlessly with the original image. Users are even presented with three variations to choose from or can continue tweaking until they find the perfect result.
Additionally, AI can expand the original frame or crop of an image by inventing what the missing parts might look like. This technique has become popular on social media, with users applying it to famous artworks, album covers, and personal photos. For instance, we used AI to expand Vincent van Gogh’s iconic bedroom painting, providing a fresh take on a timeless masterpiece.
However, AI in Photoshop also has its limitations. For every successful outcome, there were multiple instances where the results were underwhelming or even comically bad. The AI struggles with generating certain objects, resulting in goofy, poorly drawn, or outright fake additions.
For example, when asked to add a cowboy to an aerial image of a cow in a field, the AI produced a bizarre and nonsensical result. This is partly due to the current limitations of generative AI technology and Adobe’s focus on training the system to create natural-looking images.
Furthermore, the AI often veers towards macabre results despite Adobe claiming that it is not designed for such tendencies. There is still progress to be made before the AI can handle surreal or unusual requests.
The selected area in the original image also plays a significant role in the output. The AI replaces everything inside the selection, so precision is crucial. If you want to add a hat, for example, you need to select the area where the hat would realistically be. Otherwise, you might end up with ping-pong ball heads instead, as we experienced when trying to put funny hats on our Help Desk team.
When it comes to adding additional people, Photoshop’s AI struggles even more. We could never achieve a satisfactory result, as the AI consistently produced distorted and unnatural faces.
Which brings us to the question: Will AI-powered Photoshop be used for malicious purposes?
Technology has a dual nature, capable of bringing out both the best and worst in people. Already, more advanced AI-powered image tools are being used to create deceptive and exploitative content, such as deepfake “sextortion” schemes employed by scammers and political campaigns. So, does Photoshop’s AI put the tools of fakery into the hands of many more people?
The answer is mixed. While our experiments did show that AI can generate convincing fake images, Adobe has intentionally implemented limitations to prevent the software from being misused. We tested the AI by asking it to add wildfire to a photo, and it produced a realistic-looking fire. However, it was easier to add a wildfire than realistic wildflowers, indicating that Photoshop’s AI is not designed for generating certain types of content.
In conclusion, AI-powered Photoshop opens up a new dimension of possibilities for both casual users and professionals. It allows for easy and creative image manipulations, but it also raises important questions about trust and the potential for misuse. While AI in Photoshop has its limitations, it is crucial to be aware of the risks associated with advancements in image manipulation technology.
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