Adobe Firefly gets a full commercial release

Adobe’s Firefly generative AI has been used to such an extent over the past few months, generating two billion images, that it’s difficult to remember that it’s still been in beta all this time. Not any more, though its arrival coincides with some price increases.

As far as beta tests go, Adobe Firefly has been something of a success. Over two billion images have been generated with Adobe’s generative AI since it launched earlier this year. With this eventual commercial release, it extends its reach further into the Adobe ecosystem.

Here’s a quick summary of what Adobe’s just introduced.

•  Firefly GA in Photoshop and Illustrator: Powerful features including generative fill, generative expand, and generative recolor.
• Firefly GA in Adobe Express: Transforming how individuals and brands turn ideas into social media content, flyers, PDFs and more.
• Generative credits: A new consumption model that allows all Adobe users to explore the potential of generative AI.
• Adobe Stock contributor bonus: Unlocking new monetization opportunities for artists.
• Content Credentials: Automatically added to assets created with Adobe tools, as a digital "nutrition label"
• Adobe GenStudio: New enterprise offering that taps generative AI to improve content supply chains; Covers workflows from content production through activation.

So, delving into various interesting aspects of that.

Adobe Firefly-powered features are now available in several Creative Cloud apps, including Generative Fill and Generative Expand in Photoshop, Generative Recolor in Illustrator and Text to Image and Text effects in Adobe Express. Adobe says it will continuously bring Firefly-powered features into more Creative Cloud apps and workflows for photography, imaging, illustration, design, video, 3D and beyond. IN other words, this is only the start.

Generative credits

The company is also introducing a new credit-based model for generative AI across its various Creative Cloud offerings. The Firefly web application, Express Premium and Creative Cloud paid plans now include an allocation of “fast” Generative Credits. 

As you would expect, these are tokens that enable customers to turn a text-based prompt into image and vector creations in Photoshop, Illustrator, Express and the Firefly web application. After the plan-specific number of “fast” Generative Credits is consumed, subscribers can continue to generate content at slower speeds or buy additional “fast” Generative Credits through a Firefly paid subscription plan. Starting November 2023, Adobe plans for users to be able to purchase additional “fast” Credits through a subscription pack. 

Creative Cloud, Firefly and Express users on free plans will also now receive monthly Generative Credits. After the plan-specific number of Generative Credits is reached, there’s an option to upgrade to a paid plan to continue creating assets with features powered by Firefly for $4.99 a month. 

No idea yet as to the real-world implications of all this and the speed differential that will exist between the fast and the normal credits. But partly to recoup the costs of Firefly development, prices for all Creative Cloud users are rising as of 1 November. The picture’s all a bit complicated, as is Adobe’s pricing structure, but it effectively translates to a $2 monthly increase for individual users on solo plans and $5 monthly for those on the All Apps plan. Check out this Adobe blog post for details.

Content credentials

One of the things that has most impressed us about the roll-out of Firefly is the care Adobe has taken to ensure that it is done as ethically as possible. 

Adobe’s first model focused on images and text effects, was trained on Adobe Stock images, openly licensed content and public domain content where copyright has expired, and is designed to generate content safe for commercial use. Adobe says that future Adobe Firefly models will leverage various assets, technology, and training data from Adobe and others. But, as other models are implemented, the company will continue to prioritize 'countering potential harmful bias'. 

By default, Firefly includes Content Credentials on every asset created using Firefly to indicate that generative AI was used, bringing more trust and transparency to digital content. Content Credentials are verifiable details that effectively serve as a digital “nutrition label.” They can show information including an asset’s name, creation date, tools used for creation and any edits made. 

Powered by free, open-source technology from the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), this data remains associated with content wherever it is used, published or stored, enabling proper attribution and helping consumers make informed decisions about digital content. 

And with next year being an election year in the US and the world bracing for all manner of AI-generated content of dubious heritage, such initiatives are a) welcome and b) will hopefully become more widespread.