Adobe AI Updates Make Lightroom Genuinely Helpful

Adobe recently rolled out several new AI-powered features for Lightroom Classic. While the term "AI" often triggers a healthy dose of skepticism these days, a closer look reveals that these updates are genuinely welcome improvements that enhance the user experience.

A Shift from Generative AI to Practical Tools

For the last couple of years, Adobe's major headlines have been dominated by its generative AI, Firefly. This technology is the engine behind tools like Generative Expand and Generative Remove. However, not all of these ventures have been successful; its text-to-video generator, for example, was far from ready for a commercial release. In a notable strategy shift, Adobe recently began welcoming third-party AI models into its ecosystem.

"Every generative AI model has a distinct aesthetic, and we want to give users more choice and flexibility," Adobe explained in a blog post. "Whether you need the impeccable quality and commercial safety of Adobe’s models or the unique capabilities and aesthetic styles of the non-Adobe models, you can effortlessly compare outputs to find the ideal style for your creative needs.”

This new direction may have freed up resources, as the latest features in Lightroom Classic feel like a return to Adobe's core strengths: building practical tools for creators.

Streamlining Tedious Tasks with AI

One of the most significant additions is an AI culling feature, which promises to be a massive benefit for wedding and event photographers. Culling—the process of sorting through hundreds or thousands of photos to find the best ones—is a notoriously time-consuming part of the job. While third-party solutions have existed for years, integrating this capability directly into Lightroom is a logical and valuable step. Although the tool is still in early access, it's a great start to reducing a major workflow bottleneck.

Similarly, a new AI-powered dust removal feature has been added to help photographers eliminate another tedious editing task with greater efficiency.

Smarter Tools Across the Adobe Ecosystem

The improvements aren't just limited to Lightroom. Photoshop recently received a major upgrade to its AI-powered remove tools. Previously, users had to experiment with prompts to get the best results. Now, a simple "Remove" button has been added to the taskbar, offering a straightforward and remarkably effective way to eliminate objects from an image.

Another tool that has become incredibly powerful is the cloud-based selection tool. With an internet connection, it can now create extremely precise subject and object selections in seconds, dramatically speeding up complex editing jobs.

The Right Way to Implement AI

These updates represent a smart approach to AI integration. Instead of focusing solely on generating entire visuals, these tools address specific pain points and smooth out established creative workflows. This is the kind of practical AI that truly helps creators produce high-quality work faster than ever.

While Adobe's subscription model often faces criticism from the photography community, updates like these show the value it can provide. These new Lightroom features are genuinely useful, making photographers’ lives easier and their work better. This is the kind of thoughtful AI implementation we need to see more of, and Adobe deserves credit for getting it right.