Stock photographers are one of the first jobs replaced by AI

Stock photographers who survived the disruptive advent of digital cameras and online sales are bracing themselves for the next great tech shock: generative AI. Some are predicting the worst. “The stock photography industry is going away,” said Connecticut-based photographer Tony Northrup. “AI is ending it for the remaining photographers who figured out how to stay profitable.” Photographers’ concerns highlight a growing unease within the wider commercial creative industries that AI will wipe out jobs that until now have relied on artistic talent and decades of experience. Industries such as marketing, publishing, music and news have long relied on stock photography to create, illustrate or promote their products for less cost than commissioning photos would require. AI’s new capability to generate realistic images from simple text prompts is now giving stock clients an affordable, fast alternative that comes with greater control of the final image.