“Software is over”: Bold AI developer takes aim at Adobe with open source clones

Key Points:

• Developer Brandon Thomas has launched Artcraft, a suite of seven open-source applications that replicate Adobe’s major Creative Suite programs, including Photoshop and Illustrator, using AI-powered reverse engineering.
• The apps are written in Rust with WebAssembly versions for browser use, and Thomas aims to achieve near 100% feature parity with Adobe software within months, despite the current early alpha state and existing limitations.
• Funding for the free software will come from token-based access to Artcraft’s AI visual model and IDE, ensuring ongoing development and support from a dedicated team experienced in filmmaking software.
• Thomas envisions a future where AI tools enable developers to create open-source, fully functional equivalents of popular paid software, potentially transforming the tech landscape by reducing reliance on proprietary platforms.
• While the reverse engineering approach is generally legally acceptable, the Artcraft apps may face legal challenges if their interfaces too closely resemble Adobe’s distinctive “trade dress.”