Adobe Is Pathetic

Summary

The speaker vehemently criticizes Adobe for alleged underhanded practices, detailing how Adobe's updated terms of use grant them broad rights to users' content, potentially for AI training. The outrage sparked by these terms led to Adobe revising the language, but the speaker remains skeptical, accusing Adobe of disregarding customer trust. They advocate for alternative software, emphasizing the ease of cancellation should not lag behind subscription convenience, and hint at Adobe's history of prioritizing profits over user experience.

Takeaways

• 📢 The speaker canceled their Adobe subscription due to concerns about Adobe's new terms of use, which they believe are exploitative.
• 🔍 Adobe's updated terms of use include a license that gives Adobe broad rights to use customers' content, potentially for AI training and commercial purposes.
• 👀 The speaker alleges that Adobe's terms were not transparent and that they were changed without clear communication to users.
• 🚫 The initial terms were perceived as a 'ransom' because users had to agree to them to continue using Adobe's software, even in the middle of projects.
• 🔥 Public outcry and the viral spread of the issue on social media led Adobe to revise their terms to clarify that they will not use customer content to train AI models.
• 🤔 The speaker questions Adobe's motives, suggesting that the company may have intentionally tried to exploit user data for financial gain.
• 💬 Adobe's response to the controversy was seen as gaslighting and dismissive, with the company claiming that users misunderstood the terms.
• 🛑 Adobe eventually made changes to their terms, explicitly stating they will not use customer content for AI training without consent.
• 📉 The incident may have led to a loss of trust and a drop in Adobe's subscription numbers, as users like the speaker sought alternatives.
• 🛍️ The speaker recommends exploring alternative software options that do not impose the same restrictions or potential misuse of user content.
• 📉 Adobe's subscription model and difficulty in canceling subscriptions are criticized, suggesting a lack of customer-centric practices.

Q & A

Why did the speaker cancel their Adobe subscription?

The speaker canceled their Adobe subscription due to concerns about Adobe's updated terms of use, which they believe could allow Adobe to use their content for AI training and commercial purposes without proper consent.

What is the main issue with Adobe's terms of use update according to the speaker?

The main issue is that the updated terms of use grant Adobe a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and create derivative works from the user's content, which the speaker interprets as a potential misuse of their work for Adobe's commercial gain.

What is Creative Cloud and why is it significant in this context?

Creative Cloud is a suite of over 20 Adobe applications used for content creation, including Photoshop and Premier Pro. It is significant because the terms of use update applies to all users of these tools, potentially affecting a wide range of content creators.

Why did Adobe's response to the controversy seem insincere to the speaker?

The speaker found Adobe's response insincere because they felt Adobe was gaslighting its customers by claiming that the terms of use were misunderstood, despite the clear language in the updated terms that could be interpreted as granting broad rights to Adobe.

What did Adobe claim in their clarification about not using customer content to train AI models?

Adobe claimed that they do not train their generative AI models, specifically Firefly, on customer content, but rather on licensed content such as Adobe Stock and public domain content.

What was the community's reaction to Adobe's initial response to the terms of use controversy?

The community reacted negatively, with many people, including the speaker, canceling their Adobe accounts, which led Adobe to revise their terms and provide a more explicit clarification.

What changes did Adobe make to their terms and conditions after the public outcry?

Adobe expanded the terms and conditions to include a specific section clarifying that they will not use customer content to market, promote, or train generative AI models, except at the customer's specific request.

Why does the speaker believe Adobe's actions are unethical?

The speaker believes Adobe's actions are unethical because they feel Adobe is exploiting customer content without explicit consent for AI training, which could eventually replace the work of content creators and deprive them of royalties.

What alternative software does the speaker recommend instead of Adobe products?

The speaker recommends DaVinci Resolve for video editing and Affinity Photo as an alternative to Photoshop, noting that these alternatives can be purchased outright without monthly subscriptions.

What is the speaker's view on Adobe's subscription model compared to the previous model where users could buy the software?

The speaker criticizes Adobe's subscription model as greedy and customer-unfriendly, arguing that it is designed to lock users into a continuous payment plan, unlike the previous model where users could purchase and own the software indefinitely.

How does the US government's lawsuit against Adobe relate to the speaker's grievances?

The US government's lawsuit against Adobe for making it difficult to cancel subscriptions aligns with the speaker's grievances about Adobe's practices, suggesting a broader pattern of customer-unfriendly behavior.