Adobe Max Event: More AI Everywhere

Adobe had its annual MAX event recently and announced a lot of AI updates across Creative Cloud. This year’s theme was creativity with AI as your assistant, not as your replacement. Almost every major Adobe app, from Photoshop to Express, now includes generative or AI-assisted features. They all continue Adobe’s shift from traditional software to an AI-first approach.

Photoshop and Lightroom

Both Photoshop and Lightroom got new AI-powered tools, like Generative Fill that now works with outside models like Google Gemini and Black Forest Lab’s Flux. Lightroom’s new Assisted Culling feature can scan through large sets of photos and will then recommend the best shots using clarity and focus analysis. These changes make editing faster but could also change how photographers think about their workflows.

Firefly

Firefly evolves with a new Image Model 5, which produces sharper, more realistic images, especially for people and objects. The new Layered Image Editing tool adjusts lighting and shadows automatically when moving elements in a composition. Firefly also now supports Generate Soundtrack and Generate Speech, showing how it’s becoming a backbone for all of Adobe’s AI tools.

Video Tools

There are some updates to Premiere Pro and After Effects, too, including Generate Soundtrack, which creates music to match the tone or rhythm of a video. Generate Speech can turn written scripts into natural-sounding narration in over 20 languages! AI Object Mask can automatically detect and track subjects across clips for faster editing. All of these tools are made to save time, but they do kind of feel like a shift away from manual creativity.

Adobe Express

Adobe Express now gets an AI Assistant, which will let users type natural requests like “make this look vintage” or “add a sunset background” to change how a photo looks. It uses Firefly to generate graphics and visuals instantly, and integrates Adobe Fonts and Stock libraries. Adobe wants these assistants to connect across its ecosystem, and they may even work with ChatGPT-like integrations in the future.

Project Moonlight

Project Moolight is one of Adobe’s most ambitious new AI projects with a creative agent that works across all of Adobe’s apps. It acts like a centralized creative director that gives directions to Photoshop, Premiere, and Lightroom assistants together. It connects to your Creative Cloud and social accounts to understand your personal style, suggest different content ideas, and even track social performance! Moonlight can also turn casual text chats into finished visuals or posts. It’s almost like having an AI creative helper who knows your tone and voice. Project Moolight is entering private beta soon, and there is also a waitlist available for users who want early access.

All of these new features show that Adobe is trying to merge creativity, automation, and personalization all in one ecosystem. While these AI features will likely speed up creative work, they also raise questions about originality and over-reliance on automation. This year’s MAX shows that Adobe’s vision is clear: creativity, powered by AI.

Do you think Adobe’s growing use of AI makes creative work easier, or less personal? How do you feel about having AI assistants across every Adobe app? Helpful or too much for you? Let us know in the comments!

Source: The Verge Images and Videos: Adobe