According to a Fast Company article, Adobe is applying machine learning and image recognition to graphic and web design. Using Sensei, the company has created tools that automate designers’ tasks, like cropping photos and designing web pages.
Instead of a designer deciding on layout, colors, photos, and photo sizes, the software platform automatically analyzes all the input and recommends design elements to the user. Using image recognition techniques, basic photo editing like cropping is automated, and an AI makes design recommendations for the pages. Using photos already in the client’s database (and the metadata attached to those photos), the AI–which, again, is layered into Adobe’s CMS–makes recommendations on elements to include and customizations for the designer to make.
Should designers be worried? I guess not. Machine learning helps automate tedious and boring tasks. The vast majority of graphic designers don’t have to worry about algorithms stealing their jobs.
While machine learning is great for understanding large data sets and making recommendations, it’s awful at analyzing subjective things such as taste.