Just a week after President Biden’s Executive Order on the use of AI highlighted potential societal harms including disinformation, Adobe responded today to a controversy over an AI-generated stock image of a Gaza explosion that was used by several small blogs and websites without being labeled as AI-generated.
The Australian news outlet Crikey first reported the image, among other photorealistic images of Gaza available on Adobe Stock. That led to significant pushback on X (formerly Twitter):
An Adobe spokesperson responded to the controversy with the following statement:
“Adobe Stock is a marketplace that requires all generative AI content to be labeled as such when submitted for licensing. These specific images were labeled as generative AI when they were both submitted and made available for license in line with these requirements. We believe it’s important for customers to know what Adobe Stock images were created using generative AI tools.
Adobe reacted quickly to the outcry by issuing an apology for the app and pledging to put a halt on its distribution. The company stated it was “deeply remorseful” for the image and any “trauma and upset” it might have caused.
In addition, Adobe took to Twitter to declare it would be making drastic changes to avoid products “that are not able to celebrate and confirm people’s identities and lived experiences.” This includes enhanced standards for project acceptance, staff oversight, and a reassessment of the ethics and security used in technology development.
Critics of Adobe’s statement remain unconvinced, noting that the vision tech giant had neglected to immediately address the man’s identity was tied to the ongoing conflict in Palestine. Many fundamental questions remain, such as whether Adobe plans to create work that “confirms and celebrates” all lives, or if its pledge to do so was only in response to the trending scandal.
Ultimately, the public’s response appears to be mixed. While many have praised Adobe’s quick response and apology, many others remain wary of the company’s alleged lack of due diligence which led to the image’s initial distribution. The tech giant still has a long way to go in restoring its reputation and earning back the public’s trust. ”
