Another AI image generation platform hit the internet on Wednesday, January 25, this time launched by Shutterstock. Now, not only can you find photos and illustrations on the site, but you can also generate your own.
Working with AI isn’t particularly new to Shutterstock. Over the past two years, they’ve partnered with OpenAI, Meta, and LG AI Research to “fuel their generative AI research efforts,” said Paul Hennessy, CEO of Shutterstock, said in a press release(Opens in a new window). It is available in several languages and is included in the packages of paying customers.
“Our easy-to-use generative platform will transform the way people tell their stories – you no longer need to be a design expert or have access to a creative team to create exceptional work,” said Hennessy. “Our tools are built on an ethical approach and a library of assets that represents the diverse world we live in, and we ensure that artists whose works have contributed to the development of these models are recognized and rewarded.”
Here’s how to use Shutterstock’s AI image generator.
1. Go to Shutterstock homepage
This is probably the easiest step. Go to shutter.com(Opens in a new window).
First, go to the Shutterstock homepage.
2. Click on “AI Generator” in the search bar
The search bar will automatically be set to “Image” on the left. Click “Image” and you’ll see a drop-down menu of other options, including “AI Generator.” Choose this option.
Click “AI Generator” in the Shutterstock search bar
3. Type what you would like to see and click enter
You can type just about anything – within reason. Here I am looking for a “burning match”.
Type in what you would like to see from Shutterstock’s AI image generator and hit enter.
4. Search
You will need to be logged in for this next step, but you can create an account without paying anything. Click on search and see four images suitable for your request. At the bottom of the page, you have the option to click “More AI-generated images from the Shutterstock library”, if you want to see unrelated images created by artificial intelligence.
And there you have it, your four AI-generated images from Shutterstock.
It can be a fun tool to play with, but keep in mind that even though Shutterstock promises that their tools are “built on an ethical approach and on a library of assets that represents the diverse world we live in”, and that “the artists whose works have contributed to the development of these models are recognized and rewarded”, using AI to find art is still controversial(Opens in a new window).
