Creative GenerationConsumer FacingVerified
Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, March 18, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.
Shutterstock has integrated AI editing tools directly into its image library, allowing users to modify, extend, or generate variations of any stock image without needing separate editing software.
Details
Shutterstock launched a creative AI editing suite with six signature capabilities, including Magic Brush (brush-based in-image editing), Variations (alternate versions of any image), and Expand Image (outpainting to broaden the view of a scene). In August 2023, Shutterstock began introducing AI-powered editing capabilities directly on image detail pages, enabling one-click personalization of any of its hundreds of millions of assets. Artists whose original images are edited and then licensed continue to receive royalties.
Products affected
ShutterstockCreative FlowGen AI Pro
Sources & Evidence
Other practices by Shutterstock
Data AnalysisThrough its 2021 acquisition of three AI companies under the Shutterstock.AI subsidiary (Pattern89, Datasine, and Shotzr), Shutterstock offers AI tools that analyze the visual and compositional elements of ad creatives and predict their performance before a campaign goes live.ModerationShutterstock uses automated AI systems to flag and filter offensive, adult, or policy-violating content from its contributor-submitted library and from AI-generated outputs on its platform. These safeguards also include multi-layered controls to prevent generation of harmful content via its AI tools.RecommendationShutterstock uses a custom-built neural network to power visual similarity search and reverse image search across its entire library, allowing users to find matching content by uploading a photo rather than typing keywords. This applies to both images and video.
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