Art and AI are making headlines again – but this time it’s not about robot-generated masterpieces.
Instead, Adobe’s content analytics policy is in the line of fire. social media users highlighted how Photoshop the developer uses content stored on their servers: it looks like Adobe may be using it for training artificial intelligence.
In response, many users began listing ways to block privacy settings in the bundle Creative cloud and document cloud apps. Even the team at the back free drawing program Krita joined the storm on Twitter, describing Adobe’s actions as “new”.
Adobe content analysis
The online rejection began when Adobe added content analytics to its data collection powers – forcing users to opt out of a controversial plan.
In the screenshot being distributed, the new option explains: “Adobe may analyze your content using techniques such as machine learning to develop and improve our products and services. If you prefer that Adobe not analyze your files to develop and improve our services, you can opt out of content analysis at any time. This setting does not apply in limited circumstances.”
Without disabling this option, developers may unwittingly discover that their work is being used to train algorithms.
However, this is not a new policy. The original text can be found on the website Frequently asked questions (opens in a new tab)last updated in August 2022. There the company further explains:
“Adobe uses machine learning primarily in Creative Cloud and Document Cloud to analyze content. Machine learning describes a subset of artificial intelligence where a computer system uses algorithms to analyze and learn from data without human intervention to learn from patterns and make predictions.”
Artificial intelligence is one of Adobe’s greatest successes over the past few years. Named Adobe Sensei, it works through everything from Acrobat down Premiere Prodelivering higher quality results with a more accessible set of creative tools.
Turns out – perhaps unsurprisingly – Sensei’s secret sauce is user content. This includes Adobe Stock, Adobe Expressand Lightroom submissions, Beta Participation and Improvement Programs, and Processing PDF Structural Elements.
Responding to the outrage, an Adobe spokesperson told multiple publications that users remain in control of their preferences and privacy settings, reiterating that this has been a long-standing policy. So it’s okay.