AI in Improving Visual Content Creation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken visual content creation to new heights, providing fresh ways to spark creativity and boost efficiency.

How AI is Shaping Visual Content Creation

With AI’s arrival in content creation, artists, designers, and marketers now have tools that make producing images and videos easier and more innovative. Tasks that once took significant effort can now be handled in less time, and AI is bringing fresh ideas that help creators reach new standards in quality.

AI-Driven Tools for Image Creation

A range of AI tools is now available, helping people make images from text prompts or alter existing ones to fit their vision.

Adobe’s New AI Tools

In November 2024, Adobe unveiled a suite of AI-powered tools within its stock photo platform, allowing users to create and adjust images through an extensive library. This setup not only enhances flexibility but also ensures original creators are compensated, which helps address some legal questions around AI-generated content. Matthew Smith, Adobe's Vice President, pointed out that these tools are made to work alongside traditional stock images, offering creators additional ways to earn from their work.?

Canva’s AI Features

Canva, widely known as an easy-to-use design platform, recently launched new AI tools in its “Droptober” update. Among these is Dream Lab, an AI image generator powered by Leonardo.Ai , letting users make unique images to suit their design projects. They can even use reference images to guide the design. New features like Branded Captions and Magic Write simplify the design process, giving everyone—whether experienced or new to design—a smoother, quicker path to professional-looking visuals.

AI’s Role in Video Content Creation

AI doesn’t stop at still images; it has moved into video creation too, opening up options for people to create or enhance video clips using text or existing footage.

Runway’s Gen-3 Alpha

In June 2024, AI company Runway launched Gen-3 Alpha, which can create 10-second video clips based on text, pictures, or even video prompts. Co-founder Anastasis Germanidis explained that the model has learned on its own to understand 3D space, making it likely that high-quality, realistic videos will be possible in just a few years. This tool is designed to support artists in the early stages of production, helping them refine their vision without taking away from their creative process. In September, Runway partnered with Lionsgate to incorporate this model into the filmmaking process and committed a $5 million fund to support AI-driven film projects.

OpenAI’s Sora

OpenAI introduced Sora, a model that creates videos based on descriptive text prompts or extends existing videos. Sora can produce videos with resolutions up to 1920x1080 or 1080x1920. The team chose the name “Sora,” which means “sky” in Japanese, symbolizing the limitless reach of its creativity. Built on the same approach as the DALL·E 3 model for images, Sora was trained using licensed and public videos. Demos have showcased high-quality videos lasting up to a minute, hinting at its potential in content production.?

AI in Fashion and Advertising

The fashion world is another area where AI has made a big impact, simplifying how brands create content and run campaigns.

AI Models in Ad Campaigns

Brands like Mango have embraced AI by using AI-generated models in their advertisements. In July 2024, Mango featured AI-generated models in a campaign that helped drive record revenues—the highest in over 40 years. This method speeds up content creation and is more affordable, as AI models cost much less than hiring human ones. Other well-known brands like Nike, Louis Vuitton, and Levi Strauss & Co. are also exploring AI options in their ad strategies.?

AI in Social Media Content Creation

AI tools are quickly becoming central to creating captivating content for social media platforms.

SocialAI App

SocialAI is a new social media app designed by former Facebook engineer Michael Sayman, featuring AI-generated characters that act as followers and engage with users instead of real people. Although reactions have been mixed, this idea caught the attention of Meta, who hired Sayman to explore Generative AI . Meta sees potential in enhancing social media with AI despite concerns about replacing human interaction. Meta is already deeply invested in AI, from generating images and recommending content to creating responses across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. This move represents a broader trend towards making social interactions and content creation on social media automated.?

AI in Educational Content

AI is improving educational content by making it more interactive and visually engaging for learners.

Google’s Learn About Tool

Google recently introduced an experimental AI tool called Learn About, built with the LearnLM model aimed specifically at education. When asked questions like “How big is the universe?” it delivers a clear answer complete with visuals and extra learning aids. This tool aims to make difficult topics easier to understand through visual aids and simple explanations, bringing a more engaging approach to learning.

AI in News Illustration

AI is also supporting journalists and news outlets by helping them produce visuals that accompany their stories.

Opal: AI for News Images

Researchers have created Opal, a system for generating text-to-image visuals for news stories. Opal provides a step-by-step approach to finding the right visuals, allowing users to create images based on the tone, keywords, and style of a piece. This tool has shown success in creating varied illustrations and concept visuals that help journalists tell their stories visually.?

AI in Content Marketing

Marketers use AI to create appealing content that connects well with their target audience.

The Ise AI Platform

Ise AI is making waves in content marketing by helping brands produce visuals faster and more effectively. For example, Evereden, a skincare company, used Ise AI’s tools to create and fine-tune editorial content, which helped boost their sales on platforms like Amazon and Temu. Ise AI also helps brands bring products to market more quickly by lowering costs associated with traditional product shoots and creative content generation.

Ethical Aspects of AI-Generated Visual Content

While AI brings a lot of value to content creation, it raises questions around ethics that need attention from both creators and consumers.

Authenticity and Transparency

The use of AI-generated models and images in ads and media can sometimes blur reality, so brands must be transparent to keep the trust of their audiences. For instance, when Mango uses AI models, making this clear to consumers helps maintain credibility.

Rights and Fair Compensation

AI tools often rely on existing works for training, which raises issues of copyright and fair pay for original creators. Platforms like Adobe are addressing this by compensating creators when their work is used for AI-generated content, helping to protect creators’ rights.

Where AI is Headed in Visual Content Creation

As AI keeps advancing, there are a few trends worth watching.

Better Personalization

AI can create highly customized visuals that fit specific interests and preferences, allowing brands to connect better with customers. AI personalization engines analyze user data to match people with content that fits their unique interests.

Blending with Augmented Reality

Combining AI and AR is opening up new interactive experiences, as brands experiment with using AI-generated content in AR apps. This technology lets people see products in their spaces before buying them.

Instant Content Creation

Recent developments are paving the way for tools that create visuals in real-time, which is ideal for live events, social media, and marketing campaigns. Some AI tools can make real-time visuals based on live data, adding immediacy to content.

Final Thoughts

AI has truly changed how visual content is created, offering tools that broaden creativity and make processes faster. From generating images and videos to crafting personalized marketing content, AI equips creators with what they need to make visuals that connect with audiences. As this technology keeps moving forward, staying informed and considering ethical concerns will be key to tapping into AI's full potential in content creation.