AI won't replace creative jobs just as the invention of the camera didn't make paintings obsolete, Adobe exec says
- Adobe executive Ashley Still said AI advancements won't kill creative jobs in an interview with Fortune.
- Still compared AI to the invention of the camera and its impact on paintings.
As more companies incorporate AI features into their businesses, workers are becoming increasingly concerned about the threat of AI replacing them, but one Adobe executive isn't so convinced, comparing AI advancements to the invention of the camera, Fortune reported Tuesday.
Ashley Still, Adobe's senior vice president of digital media, told Fortune that she doesn't think AI will kill graphic design jobs after the software company released hundreds of new AI features incorporated into its design tools on Tuesday.
"Think about the invention of the camera," Still said. "People thought painting was going to go away, and it didn't. It's just that a new type of content emerged."
Still added that the invention of digital cameras enabled more people to take photos, but professional photographers are still in high demand.
Adobe introduced new AI features across its various Creative Cloud tools including Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator Tuesday. Some of the advancements include text to template capabilities and text-based editing in 45 different languages. This will allow users to input text descriptions which can be used to generate editable templates.
Companies, however, will still need design-focused staff to steer such AI in the right direction, and ultimately those designers will get better results using the tools than the average person because "they understand how to construct an idea, even if it's through text prompts," Still told Fortune.
Companies across various industries are rushing to incorporate AI into their businesses. For example, fast food chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, and Wingstop are automating some customer service functions by using AI-powered voice bots to take drive-thru orders and over the phone.
These changes have resulted in amplified fears among US workers about AI taking their jobs. In a September Gallup poll, 22% of college-educated professionals expressed concerns about technology like AI replacing them.
Some, however, point to the fact that even though AI is booming and making businesses more efficient, there will always be a need for human workers behind the scenes to guide AI and ensure systems are working properly.