AI in Design: From Stock Photos to Instant Image Generation
In recent years, everyone is talking about AI (artificial intelligence), and many people are using AI tools for daily needs — asking questions, improving productivity, content creation, search, education, image generation, fashion design, graphic design, healthcare, finance, decision-making, personalizing experiences, and developing new solutions for complex problems. It is also helping in everyday uses like digital assistants.
AI helps in various fields, but in this blog, we will discuss how AI is affecting the design field. The world of design and content creation is changing rapidly in 2025. Many image generators have been created in recent years, such as MidJourney, Stable Diffusion, Adobe Firefly, DALL·E, Leonardo AI, Google Gemini, and others. People just give a prompt describing how the image should look, or upload a reference image for image-to-image generation, select a specific style, and then the image is generated in just seconds. With this, both designers and non-designers can simply give a prompt and get a high-quality image — simple, effective, time-saving, and professional. This shows how design is evolving quickly.
Stock image platforms are not far behind. They are now not just libraries of ready-made photos, vectors, and templates — they are also becoming AI-powered creation tools. Instead of searching endlessly for the perfect image, users can now just type a simple prompt and generate visuals instantly.
This shift has made stock image platforms more powerful, as they now provide both traditional stock assets and the ability to generate custom images on demand. For designers, businesses, and marketers, this combination saves time, ensures licensing safety, and opens up more creative possibilities.
Why Stock Platforms Are Adding AI
The stock content industry has been around for decades, but the rise of AI in the design field is forcing the biggest platforms to adapt. These platforms don’t want to rely only on pre-made libraries; they are now integrating or creating their own AI image generators to meet modern creative demands. Here are some main reasons:
1. Unique Content Demand
Stock image platforms have millions of images, but they can’t cover every topic or niche request. Let’s say a user wants an image of “a futuristic office in space” or “a cartoon dog holding a smartphone.” These types of requirements cannot be found in existing stock archives. AI fills this gap by generating completely new visuals that match the user’s imagination.
2. Speed & Convenience
Designers spend a lot of time browsing stock platforms to find the right photo or vector. AI saves time and cuts the process down to minutes. Now, users just type a prompt and get instant results. This not only saves time and speeds up content creation but also helps marketers, bloggers, and social media managers meet tight deadlines.
3. Licensing Safety
One of the biggest challenges with free AI tools is uncertain licensing. Some free AI image generators use images scraped from the internet, which could lead to copyright issues. Stock platforms solve this problem by providing legally safe, commercially usable AI images. For businesses and agencies, this guarantee is more valuable than free access.
4. Competition with Standalone AI Tools
AI image generator tools such as MidJourney, Stable Diffusion, and DALL·E have become very popular. To stay competitive, stock platforms need to integrate similar capabilities. By offering AI within their own platforms, companies like Shutterstock and Adobe prevent users from leaving for outside tools
5. Expanding Beyond Static Content
Stock platforms have integrated or created their own AI image generators, and some are now experimenting with AI video generation, AI voiceovers, and AI templates. Starting with images is just the first step. Over time, we may see full creative suites where AI helps generate graphics, animations, and even interactive assets.
Platforms with AI Image Generators
Shutterstock AI
Shutterstock is a leading American stock platform that offers photography, footage, music, and editing services. Shutterstock’s AI Image Generator, powered by models like Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash, Imagen 4, Runway Gen 4, and GPT Image from OpenAI.
Features
- Realistic photos, illustrations, and art styles
- Integrated with Shutterstock’s licensing system
Generative AI Plus Plan ($19/month)
- 100 generations per month (1 generation = 4 images) → That’s 400 unique images!
- Every download includes a Standard License for commercial use.
- Flexible subscription, add more generations anytime.
- Backed by Shutterstock’s Contributor Fund, ensuring artists are fairly compensated.
- Get started with two free image generations!
Pros
- High-quality, stock-ready outputs
- Safe licensing
Cons
- Paid-only
- Limited free trials
Freepik AI
Vecteezy is an online stock platform that provides design resources such as vector graphics, stock photos, and stock videos. Its AI generator focuses more on creative and illustration-style outputs. The Freepik Image Generator includes several AI models: Google Imagen, Flux, Ideogram, GPT, Runway, Mystics, and Classic.
Premium+ Features
- Unlimited image generation and editing
- Unlimited video with Wan 2.2 (480p)
- 540,000 AI credits/year for creating videos, audio, and other generations
- Buy extra credits with discounts
- Topaz video upscaler
- Priority speed with selected models
- Early access to selected AI features
Pros
- Great for illustrations and creative assets
- Strong vector library
Cons
- Some limitations in realism compared to Shutterstock
Canva AI
Canva is already a popular tool for making quick designs. Now it also includes Text-to-Image AI, which lets you create pictures right inside the Canva editor. With features like Magic Media™ and Create an Image, powered by Canva’s DreamLab technology, you can simply type a description and get a custom image in seconds.
Canva AI Features
- Adjust styles, aspect ratios, and use all of Canva’s photo editing tools to fine-tune your creation
- Choose from unique looks like Watercolor, Filmic, Neon, Color Pencil, and Retrowave
- Explore a wide range of art styles, including photos, drawings, 3D, neon, and concept art
- Instantly generate custom graphics, icons, stickers, and illustrations that match your preferred style or brand
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Perfect for social media content
Cons
- Outputs can sometimes look generic compared to advanced AI tools
iStock AI
Getty’s iStock now offers AI image generation powered by its large stock archive. iStock offers AI-generated images through an expanded partnership with Bria AI, a company specializing in generative AI technology
iStock AI Features
- Trained exclusively on licensed images and data, including iStock’s creative library.
- The AI images you create include iStock’s standard legal protections and won’t be available for others to license.
- Generates stunning images that are ready for marketing, social media, and other commercial uses.
- Change specific details, create additional sizes, or instantly remove or replace an image background.
- Every AI-generated image comes with iStock’s standard legal indemnification of up to $10,000 USD per image.
- More accurate details such as consistent hands, modern clothing, lifelike lighting, realistic backgrounds, and vehicles.
Pros
- Strong legal protection
- Great for corporate users
Cons
- Subscription/credit system can be costly
Envato Elements AI
Envato is a hub for templates, videos, and graphics. Recently, they’ve started adding AI-powered creative tools.
Envato Elements offers
Envato Elements now offers a full suite of AI-powered creative tools, including:
- ImageGen – Generate unique images and illustrations from text prompts.
- ImageEdit – Edit or enhance images with AI-driven tools.
- Nano Banana – Experimental AI feature for advanced image manipulation.
- VideoGen – Create or modify videos using VideoGen AI.
- MusicGen – Generate original music tracks.
- VoiceGen – Produce AI-generated voiceovers.
- SoundGen – Create custom sound effects.
- GraphicsGen – Instantly generate vector graphics, icons, and other design elements.
Pros
- AI-generated images can be used in personal, professional, or commercial projects as part of an end product, all of which are covered under Envato Elements’ simple licensing terms.
- Perfect for multi-format creatives (videos, templates, graphics)
Cons
- Still developing AI features
123RF AI
123RF is a budget-friendly stock site with a built-in AI generator. 123RF offers free AI image generation using models like Flux, SDXL, and Amazon Nova, as well as paid options such as Flux Pro, Ideogram, and DALL·E 3.
123RF PLUS Features
- Full access to 123RF AI Suite
- Unlimited downloads from 230 million photos, vectors, videos, audio, and fonts
- Legal protection for stock content
- Every download comes with 123RF’s standard license for commercial use
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Good for small businesses
Cons
- Quality not as strong as Shutterstock
Depositphotos AI
Depositphotos has also joined the trend with its AI generator. The Depositphotos AI Image Generator operates in partnership with Bria.ai, a comprehensive visual generative AI solution designed to address business challenges and create commercially safe content.
Depositphotos AI Features
- Generate distinctive visuals with professional-grade quality
- All images created with the Depositphotos AI Generator are suitable for commercial use, both in print and digital formats.
- Built on Bria’s advanced generative AI technology for reliable results
- Designed to meet commercial needs such as marketing, advertising, and branding.
Pros
- Easy to use, decent outputs
Cons
- AI quality is improving, but not at Shutterstock/Freepik level
Future of Stock + AI
The future of stock platforms is moving toward AI-first creation. In the coming years, users will mostly generate images according to their needs rather than simply searching for them. Stock sites may evolve into AI training hubs, offering unique styles, brand-safe outputs, and subscription models that provide unlimited custom visuals.
Stock image platforms are no longer just libraries—they are AI-powered creative partners. Whether you’re a designer looking for unique vectors, a business in need of safe commercial images, or a content creator making quick social posts, there’s now a stock+AI option for you.