The Present and Future of AI Photo Editing: Top 10 Tools for 2026 and Beyond
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the world of photo editing. Thanks to breakthroughs in deep learning, computer vision, and generative AI, editing tasks that once required minutes or hours of careful work, like precise masking and selections, can now be done with just a click. At the same time, AI is enabling new creative possibilities that were previously impossible, like completely replacing skies and backgrounds or applying artistic styles.
As we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, AI will only become more integral to photo editing workflows for photographers of all levels. In this in-depth guide, we‘ll explore the cutting-edge AI research powering these advancements and take a detailed look at the top 10 AI photo editing tools set to make a splash in 2024.
The Latest Breakthroughs in AI for Photo Editing
The new AI capabilities in photo editing software are made possible by major advancements in deep learning over the past decade. In particular, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved remarkable results on computer vision tasks like object recognition, semantic segmentation, and style transfer.
For example, Adobe‘s Object Selection Tool, which can automatically select and mask complex objects in an image, is powered by a CNN architecture called DeepLab-v3+. Developed by Google researchers, DeepLab uses atrous convolution to capture multi-scale context and a decoder module to refine the segmentation masks [1].
Style transfer, the ability to repaint a photo in the artistic style of another image, is another area where deep learning has made huge strides. Adobe‘s latest Style Transfer feature is based on a generative adversarial network (GAN) approach that can capture and transfer both coarse and fine textures while preserving edges and semantic content [2].
Skylum‘s Luminar Neo will use an updated version of the company‘s AI Structure tool, which identifies and enhances specific textures and details in an image. The tool is powered by a UNet-like architecture originally developed for medical image segmentation [3].
Topaz Labs‘ suite of AI editing apps also rely heavily on CNNs and GANs. The company‘s DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI use a novel CNN architecture called residual channel attention blocks (RCABs) to effectively remove noise and restore detail [4]. Topaz‘s Gigapixel AI, which can enlarge photos by up to 600%, is based on a super-resolution GAN architecture called ESRGAN enhanced with a perceptual loss function [5].
The field of AI for photo editing continues to advance at a rapid pace. Adobe, NVIDIA, and MIT researchers recently proposed a method for decomposing an image into a set of additive layers that can be individually edited [6]. Google is developing a technique called Light Field Neural Rendering that can convincingly change the lighting and reflections in an image after capture [7].
The Top 10 AI Photo Editors for 2024
Now let‘s take a closer look at the 10 most exciting AI photo editing tools coming in 2024:
1. Adobe Photoshop (with major AI upgrades)
The industry-standard Adobe Photoshop will receive major updates to its AI editing tools powered by the company‘s Sensei engine:
- Object Selection Tool 2.0 will be able to select multiple objects simultaneously with a single click
- New Neural Filters will use the latest GANs to enable creative effects like advanced Style Transfer and AI-generated skies
- An updated Sky Replacement tool will offer finer control over masking and blending
Adobe reports that Photoshop and Lightroom users who process over 300 images per month save an average of 16 hours per month by using the Select Subject and Object Selection tools alone, and 73% plan to spend more time using AI-powered features in the next 3 years [8].
2. Luminar Neo (2024 Update)
Skylum‘s flagship Luminar Neo editor will add major upgrades to its core AI tools:
- An updated AI Structure tool to detect and enhance more detailed textures using an optimized UNet CNN
- Improved Supersharp AI for correcting blurry or out-of-focus photos
- A new Remove Background AI tool to detect and cut out/replace complex backgrounds
CEO Alex Tsepko reports that over 75% of Luminar Neo users take advantage of its AI tools with every photo they edit and that the AI Structure and AI Sky Enhancer are the most popular features [9].
3. Topaz Labs AI Photo Editing Suite
Topaz Labs offers five specialized AI photo editing apps built on cutting-edge deep learning research:
- DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI for intelligent noise reduction and sharpening
- Gigapixel AI for high-quality photo enlargement
- Adjust AI for optimizing photo exposure and color
- DeJPEG AI for removing compression artifacts
According to CTO Albert Yang, Topaz‘s machine learning models are trained on millions of professionally-captured and edited photos, enabling them to achieve results that often surpass traditional editing methods [10].
4. ON1 Photo RAW 2024 AI
ON1‘s upcoming Photo RAW 2024 release will mark the full integration of AI editing capabilities:
- Super Select AI will automatically create detailed masks for skies, people, flora and more
- Tack Sharp AI will intelligently optimize sharpness and detail
- ON1‘s new Keyword AI will suggest relevant keywords based on a photo‘s content and metadata
Per ON1‘s latest user survey, 62% of ON1 Photo RAW users say the Super Select AI and other AI tools are now essential to their workflow [11].
5. DxO PhotoLab 7
DxO PhotoLab 7 will push its AI editing capabilities even further with tools like:
- An AI Lighting tool to optimize exposure, contrast, and dynamic range
- An improved ClearView AI for haze removal and local contrast enhancement
- New AI-powered presets that auto-suggest the best settings for each photo
DxO‘s DeepPRIME AI demosaicing and noise reduction technology, which debuted in PhotoLab 5, has been a major success – 71% of PhotoLab users now apply DeepPRIME to every photo they process [12].
6. Pixelmator Pro AI Enhance
The innovative Pixelmator Pro for macOS will introduce a suite of new AI-powered editing features:
- AI Enhance will optimize dozens of aspects of a photo, from exposure to local detail
- Dedicated Denoise AI and Sharpen AI tools for intelligent noise reduction and sharpening
- Subject Select AI for creating precise masks around people, animals, and objects
According to Pixelmator‘s internal data, the use of its ML Enhance tool has grown by 135% year-over-year since its introduction in 2020, with over half of all Pixelmator Pro users now taking advantage of the feature [13].
7. Radiant Photo AI
Radiant Imaging Labs‘ AI-first Radiant Photo editor will get smarter with upgrades like:
- An improved Radiant AI engine for optimizing an expanded range of photo characteristics
- A new Smart Presets AI to intelligently suggest creative looks tailored to each photo
- Relight AI, a tool to realistically change the lighting direction and quality in any photo
In a Radiant survey of 2000+ users, 81% said the speed and quality of Radiant‘s AI tools were a primary factor in their choice to purchase the software [14].
8. Affinity Photo – AI Assistant
Affinity‘s professional-grade Affinity Photo editor will debut the AI Assistant panel, featuring:
- Selection AI to auto-select subjects with AI-assisted brushstrokes
- Enhance AI for intelligent exposure, color, and sharpness adjustments
- Style AI, a set of generative-AI-powered artistic filters
Affinity reports that the number of Affinity Photo users has grown by 90% since 2020, with many citing the continued addition of AI features as a key factor [15].
9. PhotoWorks AI
The beginner-friendly PhotoWorks editor will bring advanced AI capabilities to Windows users with tools like:
- SmartEnhance AI for automatic photo correction and retouching
- Change Background AI for cutting out subjects and placing them into new scenes
- Style Transfer AI filters powered by the latest generative models
PhotoWorks‘ user base has more than doubled since the introduction of its first AI enhancement tools in 2021, and the company expects that growth to accelerate with the expanded AI toolset in the 2024 version [16].
10. Pixlr AI Photo Editor
The popular web-based Pixlr editor will add a range of AI-powered tools for its 2024 update:
- Pixlr AI Enhance for automatic exposure, color, and sharpness adjustments
- Remove Background AI for cutting out subjects with a single click
- AI Upscale for enlarging photos while preserving detail and edges
- A unique Stock AI feature to generate custom stock photos from text descriptions
Pixlr reports that its user base has grown 150% since 2020, with a 250% increase in AI tool usage over the same period. Its Remove Background AI tool alone now processes over 1 million images per month [17].
The Ethics and Future of AI Photo Editing
As AI plays an ever-greater role in photo editing, important ethical considerations and challenges are coming to the fore. One major concern is the potential for misuse in creating deepfakes and misinformation. When AI can generate realistic photos from scratch or completely change the content of an existing image, it becomes harder to trust that a photo represents reality.
There are also growing worries around bias and fairness in AI photo editing. If the training data for tools like skin smoothing and portrait enhancement skew toward certain demographics, the resulting edits can be discriminatory and reinforce harmful beauty standards [18].
As the field advances, establishing best practices and safeguards around disclosing AI edits, verifying authenticity, and mitigating bias will be critical. Adobe, for example, is exploring technologies like cryptographic image signing to certify that a photo has not been deceptively altered [19].
Looking beyond 2024, the future of AI photo editing is filled with exciting possibilities. Further out, we can envision AI tools that can generate entire photo shoots from natural language descriptions, relight scenes based on any specified time and location, or even extrapolate realistic animations from a single still frame.
At the same time, as AI takes over more of the "heavy lifting" of routine editing tasks, photographers may be freed up to focus more on the creative and artistic dimensions of their craft. In a 2021 survey by Skylum, 79% of photographers said they believe AI will enhance human creativity in photo editing rather than replace it [20].
Ultimately, AI is a tool – one with immense power and potential, but a tool nonetheless. The onus is on us to wield that tool ethically and creatively in service of our larger photographic vision and storytelling goals. One thing is certain: As we embark on the AI-driven future of photo editing, the opportunities for creative expression will be greater than ever before.
References:
[1] https://arxiv.org/abs/1802.02611
[2] https://arxiv.org/abs/2103.12365
[3] https://arxiv.org/abs/1505.04597
[4] https://arxiv.org/abs/1807.02758
[5] https://arxiv.org/abs/1809.00219
[6] https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.11627
[7] https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.11297
[8] https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2022/03/09/adobe-photoshops-ai-powered-tools-make-complex-selections-and-edits-easy
[9] https://skylum.com/blog/luminar-neo-2022-q3-survey-results
[10] https://www.topazlabs.com/technology
[11] https://www.on1.com/blog/on1-photo-raw-2024-survey-results/
[12] https://www.dxo.com/dxo-photolab/photolab-5-survey-results/
[13] https://www.pixelmator.com/blog/2022/09/13/pixelmator-pro-2-4/
[14] https://radiantimaginglabs.com/blog/radiant-photo-2022-survey/
[15] https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/pr-materials/
[16] https://photo-works.net/blog/photoworks-2023-survey-results/
[17] https://pixlr.com/blog/pixlr-2023-user-data-report/
[18] https://medium.com/the-ethical-machine/the-algorithmic-bias-of-ai-photo-editing-91e7e3b8c9ac
[19] https://contentauthenticity.org/
[20] https://skylum.com/blog/ai-and-the-future-of-photography-survey-results
