Adobe reworks its apps for AI assistants, pursues ChatGPT integration By Reuters
San Francisco — Adobe said it has rebuilt core creative apps so they can be steered through natural-language chats, and it is working with OpenAI to let users drive Adobe Express directly from ChatGPT.
Best known for Photoshop and Premiere, Adobe has been increasingly layering generative AI into its lineup since launching the Firefly model suite in 2023. The latest update goes beyond text-to-image: users can now ask an assistant to create, edit, or refine assets, while still retaining the option to grab the usual sliders, knobs, and timelines to make hands-on adjustments.
Under the hood, Adobe says multiple AI “agents” interpret a user’s request and then perform the equivalent of clicking buttons and moving controls inside the app—much like a human assistant would. This agentic approach aims to make complex tasks more accessible without hiding the traditional tools professionals rely on.
Ely Greenfield, chief technology officer for Adobe’s Digital Media business, said the re-architecture makes it simpler to plug Adobe’s apps into third-party services. As a first step, Adobe is collaborating with OpenAI so a project can begin inside ChatGPT and flow into Adobe Express. Users could outline a design in a chat, see the assistant apply changes, and tweak results directly in ChatGPT before opening the project in Express for deeper editing.
According to Greenfield, users will be able to nudge and refine what the chatbot-driven agent is doing, then continue the conversation inside Express with its built-in design assistant—while also accessing the full set of Express editing tools when they want more precision.
Adobe said the AI assistant in Express is available now. The company did not provide a timeline for when the ChatGPT integration will roll out.
What’s new
- Conversational control: Ask an AI assistant to create, resize, recolor, or restyle assets without hunting through menus.
- Agentic execution: Behind the scenes, coordinated AI agents manipulate app controls to carry out your requests.
- Human-in-the-loop editing: Switch seamlessly from chat-driven changes to manual fine-tuning with familiar tools.
- Third-party pathways: A reworked architecture designed to integrate with services like ChatGPT, starting with Adobe Express.
Why it matters
Creative software is rapidly shifting toward “co-pilot” experiences that combine natural-language intent with precision editing. Adobe’s approach tries to bridge newcomers—who benefit from chat-based guidance—and professionals, who demand control and fidelity. By enabling projects to start in a ubiquitous chatbot and continue in Express, Adobe is positioning its tools wherever creators begin their workflows.
Availability
- Adobe Express AI assistant: Available now, according to the company.
- ChatGPT integration: In development; no release date announced.
Context: Adobe has steadily expanded Firefly-powered features across its portfolio since 2023, pushing into generative image creation and assistive editing. The latest move extends that strategy into agent-driven automation and cross-platform collaboration, with ChatGPT as a potential on-ramp for new and casual creators who prefer to start with a conversation.
