I Tried 'PhotoCraft,' the AI Clone of Photoshop, and It's Almost Exactly Like the Real Thing

Key Points:

• AI is being used to reverse-engineer major software like Adobe Photoshop, resulting in free, open-source clones such as "PhotoCraft" that closely mimic the original's features and layout.
• Developer Brandon Thomas has created AI-powered clones of several Adobe and Microsoft Office apps in Rust, motivated by frustration with subscription fees and aiming to offer functional equivalents without cost.
• The legality of these AI-generated clones remains uncertain, as reverse engineering is tolerated only if no code is directly copied, and the resemblance to original apps could invite legal challenges.
• Early user experience with PhotoCraft shows it is highly similar to Photoshop in interface and functionality, performing well for common image editing tasks despite some minor issues and potential limitations for advanced users.
• While promising, AI-generated software clones face questions about long-term viability, quality, and trust, with some users preferring to maintain subscriptions to original products amid ongoing legal and technical uncertainties.