Adobe to launch free app for labeling AI-generated content

Adobe has announced the upcoming release of a free web-based app designed to help creators of images and videos gain proper credit and control over the use of their work in AI systems. This initiative, set to launch next year, aims to boost transparency and trust in digital content amid ongoing legal challenges in the industry.

Since 2019, Adobe, along with other tech companies, has been developing "Content Credentials," a digital stamp that identifies how photos and videos were created. TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, has already committed to using Content Credentials to label AI-generated content.

Based in San Jose, California, Adobe's new service will enable photo and video creators to attach Content Credentials to their work for free. This tool not only credits the creators but also allows them to indicate if they prefer their work not be used in AI training systems, which consume vast amounts of data.

The issue of data usage in AI training has led to legal actions across various industries, with publishers like the New York Times suing OpenAI, while some firms have opted for licensing agreements. Despite this, no major AI company has yet agreed to follow Adobe’s transparency system. However, Adobe stated it is "actively working to drive industry-wide adoption" of its standards.

"By offering creators a simple, free, and easy way to attach Content Credentials to their creations, we are helping them preserve the integrity of their work while enabling a new era of transparency and trust online," said Scott Belsky, Adobe's Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President for Design and Emerging Products, in a statement.