Photoshop Is Dead Long Live Photoshop (www.mikechambers.com)

The recent launch of Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash image model has reignited claims that generative AI will replace Photoshop, fueling debate in the AI and creative communities. However, an insider perspective from Adobe reveals that despite AI’s impressive image generation and new control mechanisms, generative models currently lack the precise, deterministic, and non-destructive editing capabilities that define Photoshop’s value. Critical features like pixel-level edits, layer-based workflows, editable fonts, exact color management, and support for vector-raster integration remain beyond AI’s consistent reach. Photoshop is not merely an image creation tool but a comprehensive "creative operating system" that enables users to build complex, editable workflows—comparable to running custom apps within a PSD file—that offer unparalleled control and repeatability. Unlike AI outputs, which are often single static assets, Photoshop’s system lets creators return to and precisely tweak their work over time, making it indispensable for professional and artistic projects requiring exact fidelity. Moreover, while generative AI lowers the barrier to producing “good enough” content, it also risks homogenizing creative output by flattening the skill ceiling. Mastering Photoshop, especially when combined with AI-generated content, raises that ceiling considerably, allowing creators to push boundaries and stand out. Far from obsolete, Photoshop’s role is elevated in the AI era as the ultimate tool for nuanced image control and refinement, bridging human creativity with AI’s generative power.