The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority escalated its investigation of the Getty Images-Shutterstock merger to Phase 2 on November 3, 2025, citing concerns about “substantial lessening of competition” and potential for “higher prices” and “lower quality” content for news publishers. Three weeks later, Getty CEO Craig Peters told the FinancialContinue Reading
AI Everywhere, But Not All the Time Every October in San Francisco, where robot taxis are busily roaming the streets, something peculiar happens. The photography industry’s old guard—print manufacturers, stock agencies, software makers—sits down with its new blood: the brilliant engineers building AI-powered photo services, mobile apps, editing tools, andContinue Reading
For years, we’ve been told that data is the new oil, and in the world of artificial intelligence, that metaphor feels almost understated. Every major AI breakthrough, from large language models to image synthesis engines, rests on vast amounts of labeled, real-world data. But unlike oil, data isn’t something youContinue Reading
A Market on the Brink The proliferation of generative AI has ushered in a transformative era in visual content creation. Capable of producing photorealistic images from text prompts in seconds, tools like Midjourney, DALL·E, and Adobe Firefly are reshaping how businesses and individuals source images. By August 2024, 39.5% ofContinue Reading
The announcement of the Shutterstock-Getty Images merger landed like a crack of a whip in the stillness of the desert. With the New Year barely underway and much of the world’s attention focused on global politics, the news caught everyone by surprise—though not for long. The stock photo industry hasContinue Reading
Four visual AI platforms are setting industry standards by training their models on ethically sourced data, compensating creators fairly, and preventing the generation of copyrighted content. Adobe, Getty Images, Shutterstock, and Bria.ai have established revenue-sharing and bonus systems, with vast proprietary image databases, to support ethical AI development. These companies are leading the charge in demonstrating that AI can succeed commercially while adhering to responsible data practices and bypassing the need for regulatory oversight.Continue Reading
The question often comes up at our Visual 1st conference and in our strategic client workshops: What criteria to apply when selecting potential targets for strategic acquisition? And, from the standpoint of startups seeking an exit, how to choose suitable potential acquirers? Examining recent trends can provide helpful insights onContinue Reading
On one side, an economy exponentially craving for content. On the other, a static, unprepared landscape ripe for disruption. The stage is set for a redistribution of value in a vibrant and volatile environment: Witness the formation of a new visual content ecosystem. It’s been a cascading series of announcements:Continue Reading
Shutterstock’s acquisition of 3D marketplace Turbo Squid is significant for a few reasons, some of which might not be obvious. The first and well-understood purchase trigger is that the microstock company is under pressure to expand its offering horizontally. There is a known ceiling to the paid licensed still imagesContinue Reading
It made a giant noise as it caught everyone by surprise — $230 million investment in a company providing photo services. After Adobe’s $800 million purchase of French microstock photo company Fotolia, Pond 5’s $64 million investment and Shutterstock’s $76.5 million IPO, it is the highest figures ever seen investedContinue Reading