Getty cuddles with OpenAI – the photo news of the week 26/2026

Who would have seen that coming? Getty Images, previously one of the loudest OpenAI critics and also with a lawsuit against Stability AI, is suddenly cozying up to the AI ​​giant. What’s going on there? Getty probably made a calculation: It’s better to hug your opponent before he flattens you. To put it less dramatically – if AI, then at least against license fees.

From enemy to friend – Getty’s strategic pivot

The news arrived this week like an open aperture in the midday sun: Getty Images and OpenAI have announced a “Display Partnership”. Sounds harmless, but it’s quite a change of course. Now ChatGPT users can access Getty’s massive archive – properly licensed and compensated, of course.

The stock market reacted promptly. Getty’s shares shot up, at times by more than 145 percent. Investors seem to be betting that this deal could be a model – one in which stock agencies are not displaced by AI, but integrated. In concrete terms, this means that anyone who requests something from ChatGPT will be served Getty images straight away, complete with license and watermark.

What does this mean for photographers?

That’s one thing for photographers whose pictures are at Getty. On the one hand, visibility in one of the most used AI tools in the world – that’s not nothing. On the other hand, it is unclear what the remuneration will actually look like and whether it will be fair at all. Getty promises that the photographers will be involved, but remains conspicuously tight-lipped about the details.

And then there are the bigger questions: Is this the beginning of a new era in which photo agencies and AI companies cooperate instead of fighting each other? Or is this just a desperate attempt not to disappear into insignificance in the age of AI? Probably a bit of both. Getty understands that you can’t win the fight against AI – so you become part of the solution.

OpenAI buys legitimacy

The deal is a smart move for OpenAI. In this way, the company not only secures access to millions of high-quality images, but also a bit of legitimacy. The accusation that AI models are being fed stolen material is finally becoming louder and louder. That’s exactly what partnerships like this answer. “Look, we pay for content!” is the message. Will that calm the critics? Rather questionable. But it’s at least a start.

The question of who will follow suit is also exciting. Shutterstock has long since entered into similar agreements with AI companies. It smells like a new normal: AI companies are licensing content, agencies are making money – and photographers are, well, hopefully getting their share too.

VSCO One: $500 for the professional platform

While Getty seeks to get closer to AI, VSCO is taking a completely different path. The app, popular with many photographers, offers “VSCO One,” an all-in-one platform for professionals – for a whopping $500 a year. This is no longer a subscription, this is an announcement. For comparison: the regular VSCO subscription costs around $30 annually.

And what’s inside? VSCO One combines the well-known image editing app with “VSCO Workspace”, a desktop application for professional workflow. On top of that, there are advanced portfolio features, cloud storage and customer management tools. VSCO wants to be the complete solution for professionals – from recording to editing to presentation and communication with the customer.

The question remains whether professionals will actually shell out $500 when they’re already paying for Adobe subscriptions, storage solutions and portfolio websites. VSCO’s argument: Only the integration of all these services justifies the price. And to be honest – if you bill Lightroom, cloud storage, portfolio hosting and customer communication individually, you will quickly end up with similar amounts.

Nevertheless, it remains a bold move in a market that Adobe has a firm grip on. VSCO relies on photographers to appreciate the brand’s seamless integration and distinctive aesthetic. Will that be enough against the top dog? Wait. The launch is announced for later this year.

Adobe swallows Topaz Labs

When Adobe goes shopping, it usually becomes expensive for users. So now Topaz Labs – the software giant has acquired the AI ​​image processing specialist. The news hit the photo community like a bomb. For many, Topaz was exactly the alternative they turned to if they couldn’t stand Adobe’s subscription model.

From competitor to colleague

Topaz Labs has made a name for itself in recent years with tools such as Sharpen AI, Denoise AI and Gigapixel AI – all programs that enhance, upscale and denoise images using artificial intelligence. The key difference to Adobe was in the business model: you could buy the software instead of renting it. Pay once, done. No monthly subscription that feels like a gym contract that you never cancel but never actually use.

Adobe is now promising to integrate Topaz technology into the Creative Cloud. What does this mean for current Topaz users? That remains open. Will the standalone apps continue to be offered? Or do they disappear into the black hole of the Creative Cloud and only reappear as a subscription feature? The official press release remains vague at this point – rarely a good sign.

There’s already a hangover mood on Reddit. Many fear that their beloved standalone tools will soon be history. “First Topaz was the alternative to Adobe, now it is Adobe,” one comment sums up the mood. Others are already speculating about rising prices – a concern that can be historically proven in Adobe takeovers.

Of course, the deal makes sense for Adobe. Topaz’s AI technology is mature and could add new features to Lightroom and Photoshop. On top of that, a competitor who had a good reputation among photographers who didn’t want to pay monthly fees is disappearing from the market. Win-win for Adobe, lose-lose for users? The next few months will show whether the many fears are justified.

outlook

However, Adobe remains silent about the details of the takeover, especially the purchase price. The aim is to complete the integration over the course of 2026. Until then, the Topaz apps will likely remain available independently – probably the last opportunity to secure them as a purchase version before they are absorbed into the Creative Cloud universe.

One thing is certain: the photo community will follow developments like a hawk. The time may also be ripe for a new underdog to take over Topaz’s legacy as an Adobe alternative. Until then: Welcome to the family, Topaz Labs. It was nice to have known you as an independent alternative.

(tho)