Shutterstock Introduces Innovative AI Editing Features for Its 700 Million Image Collection

Shutterstock , a global creative platform, has announced fresh AI-driven editing tools for its vast inventory of stock images.

CEO Paul Hennessy described this as a revolutionary step in the stock photography realm, asserting that creative professionals now possess the abilities to develop tailored content for any project using AI-assisted editing tools drawn from Shutterstock's library.

Currently in beta testing, these AI editing features leverage the cutting-edge technology of OpenAI. Customers can now create fresh content using AI and edit or transform images from Shutterstock's library, streamlining the creative workflow.

"Shutterstock was established to bridge the gap between photographers and the creative individuals seeking to license their works. This new suite of tools brings our clients closer to realizing their creative visions, as though they were directing a shoot themselves,\"

said Hennessy.

Shutterstock's innovative AI editing suite includes six main features, along with extra enhancements like a virtual AI assistant for design and advanced filtering options. This initiative aims to empower brands, digital media outlets, and marketing firms to push the boundaries of content creation. The capabilities will be showcased during the Shutterstock Showcase: Creative AI virtual series on November 9.

The six primary features consist of:

• Magic Brush: Adjust images by selecting areas and articulating the desired changes.
• Variations: Create alternative versions for any given image.
• Expand Image: Stretch the view of an image to reveal more of the background.
• Smart Resize: Seamlessly alter image dimensions to meet specific needs.
• Background Remover: Substitute or eliminate backgrounds without losing the main subject.
• AI Image Generator: Enables the creation of high-quality graphics simply by describing the content.

Artist Compensation and Ethical AI Initiatives

Artists whose images are licensed following edits will receive compensation. Nonetheless, AI-generated or modified content will not be accepted for licensing, aligning with Shutterstock’s policies aimed at safeguarding the IP of contributors and ensuring fair remuneration for artists.

Shutterstock’s venture into creative AI editing is part of a broader strategy to promote ethical and responsible AI innovations within the creative sector. The platform has joined the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) to validate the origin and lineage of media content. Furthermore, Shutterstock plans to infuse CAI’s standards into its AI capabilities and creative tools, including the DALL·E-driven AI Image Generator, ensuring users receive verifiable details about content authorship, creation, and editing history.

In July, Shutterstock entered The company has entered a six-year partnership with OpenAI, allowing access to Shutterstock’s comprehensive training data encompassing images, videos, music libraries, and associated metadata. In exchange, Shutterstock benefits from the latest OpenAI technologies, particularly the capabilities of DALL·E’s text-to-image feature.

This collaboration empowers Shutterstock users to modify any image in their library according to their creative desires. In addition, both organizations are collaborating to integrate generative AI into Shutterstock’s GIPHY platform.