Unlike others, Adobe’s AI isn’t just simple enhancement—it’s actively reshaping how students, faculty, and creators work. This offers new possibilities for developing a unique creative expression.
Adobe AI tools, like Firefly, are designed to empower users, giving them greater creative control and increasing individual productivity. For students and professionals alike, this means being able to quickly generate the images or ideas they need without sifting through endless stock photos or manually crafting each element.
As Thomas Mahon, an expert on digital literacy here at Kent State, puts it: “Firefly is rapidly being integrated into apps, boosting productivity. Students can generate specific images for their projects, giving them more creative control.”
In the constantly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), Adobe stands out by integrating AI directly into their creative software. They utilize the modern technological landscape while keeping their eyes on the future.
This is especially significant as Kent State joins a growing but carefully chosen group of universities designated as an Adobe Creative Campus. This acknowledgment highlights the university’s commitment to equipping students with essential digital skills as we look toward the future and emphasizes the value of these AI tools in education.
As Mahon notes, “In Ohio, Adobe has only granted this designation to three schools... It speaks highly of our commitment to helping students with their digital literacy.”
Adobe AI extends beyond simple productivity as well. Tools like Neural Filters allow users to fundamentally alter images, from changing facial expressions to creating entire scenes with a few clicks. Additional features like Photoshop’s Smart Selection and Fresco’s Live Brushes utilize AI to simplify tasks that once required hours of manual effort, making even the most complex adjustments feel intuitive.
One of the most comprehensive aspects of Adobe AI is its ability to generate art autonomously. Using complex algorithms to create artwork based on unique prompts. Adobe’s generative AI blurs the line between human and machine.
While this creative restructuring opens new paths, it also raises questions about creativity and authorship. As AI continues to evolve, it’s crucial to think critically and objectively about how we define what art is and ensure the ethical use of these tools.
Concerns about authenticity and ownership are valid, but Mahon sees AI as part of a broader technological evolution: “Change is always hard. It happened in the '80s during the desktop publishing revolution, when thousands of local print shops closed because of technology advances. Technology shifts industries, but it's part of a process that has been happening for thousands of years.” Luckily Adobe straddles this well with Firefly; it generates its images not from uncredited works, but from already licensed stock images owned by Adobe.
Here at Kent State, we’re fortunate; students and faculty have access to Adobe Creative Cloud, which allows them to experiment with these AI-powered tools firsthand. Students are being encouraged to engage with these tools–not to decrease authenticity, but as a powerful tool to use in tandem with pre-established creative aptitude.
In addition, The Division of Information Technology offers , encouraging the KSU community to explore the possibilities these innovations bring. Trainings on Creative Cloud programs and many other technology tools are hosted in the library's first floor training room.
Adobe AI isn’t just about making tasks easier—it’s about expanding the pool of a user’s creative potential. The tools are there to accelerate what’s possible, but true creativity still must come from within people themselves.
As we continue to engage with this technology with its growing advancements, it’s up to humanity to use it thoughtfully and purposefully, embracing its potential while adhering to the endlessness of human creativity.