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At Adobe Max 2025, the creative software giant dropped what could be its most transformative Photoshop update in years, embedding AI deeply into the fabric of image editing. This isn't just incremental tweaks—it's a reimagining of the creative process, headlined by an agentic AI assistant that converses with users to handle repetitive tasks like batch resizing or applying consistent edits. Powered by Adobe's Firefly and partner models, this assistant learns user preferences to offer personalized recommendations, freeing artists to focus on innovation rather than mechanics.

The New AI Arsenal

Beyond the assistant, Photoshop's suite of AI tools has expanded dramatically:
- Generative Fill Evolution: Users can now tap into external AI models like Google Gemini 2.5 Flash and Black Forest Labs FLUX.1 Kontext alongside Firefly. This multiplies creative options for generating or modifying content via simple prompts, building on the viral success of the 2023 feature.
- Generative Upscale: Leveraging Topaz Labs' tech, this feature breathes new life into low-resolution images by upscaling them to crisp 4K—ideal for restoring vintage photos or enhancing digital archives.
- Harmonize: A game-changer for compositing, Harmonize automatically matches the lighting, color, and tone of inserted objects to their backgrounds. As ZDNET's David Gewirtz noted in early testing, it's "very, very good" and "addictive," eliminating hours of manual adjustment.
- Object Mask: This AI-driven tool simplifies isolating elements in video frames, enabling effortless color grading or effects application without tedious rotoscoping.
- Assisted Culling: For photographers drowning in event shots, AI scans batches to highlight the sharpest, best-composed images, filtering by focus, angle, and clarity.

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Caption: Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Why This Matters

For developers and creatives, this update isn't just about convenience—it's a strategic leap. By integrating agentic AI, Adobe addresses the why behind automation: reducing burnout from mundane tasks and amplifying human creativity. The support for third-party models like Gemini also hints at a more open ecosystem, challenging the siloed approach of some competitors. In cybersecurity contexts, tools like Object Mask could streamline forensic video analysis, while Generative Upscale has implications for AI-driven restoration in cultural heritage projects.

Critically, these features are rolling out in public beta (except the AI assistant, which is invite-only via Photoshop on the web). As AI reshapes creative software, Adobe's move pressures rivals to prioritize interoperability and user-centric design, proving that the future of editing lies in collaboration between human intuition and machine intelligence.

Source: ZDNET (Original article by Artie Beaty, reviewed by Elyse Betters Picaro)