Can AI really clone Adobe's Creative Cloud apps?

A software developer fed up with Adobe’s subscription model used Claude to reverse-engineer Photoshop, Lightroom and other Creative Cloud apps, then released open-source clones that anyone can download and modify for free. The project, called Artcraft, is one of the clearest signs yet that AI is making it far easier to copy commercial software.

Software developer Brandon Thomas and his team launched the Adobe clones in early October. Their pitch is simple: a one-to-one replacement for Creative Cloud apps, with a similar user interface, that is “free [with] no subscription, and you own the source code,” the team said on Reddit.

Thomas said he decided to reverse-engineer the apps after getting “bit by [Adobe’s]... dark pattern ‘cancellation fee’ one too many times,” he wrote on Hacker News. He used Claude to create what he calls “clean room... pure Rust” versions of each app, and he claims they are more performant than the originals.

Photocraft tries to win over Photoshop users

How well do AI-built Photoshop clones work?

Engadget’s Steve Dent tested Photocraft, the Photoshop replacement, and came away surprised. He said the app lacks AI and other advanced features, but it handles most everyday tasks, including resizing, masking and color adjustments. The menus and controls are nearly one-to-one matches for Photoshop, so he could start working right away without a steep learning curve.

The app is far from finished. Users have reported serious bugs, including the app deleting images, randomly merging layers and lacking stability. Dent also found that Photocraft can’t open native Photoshop PSD files, a major obstacle for anyone with an existing library of work. Dent wrote that the app may not suit power users, but it could be good enough for many Adobe subscribers.

Thomas has bigger ambitions than Adobe’s suite. “Software is over... AI lets us take back tech and set the clock back to the pre-sh***y era,” he said.

Reverse engineering reaches everyday users

Coders on the Photocraft team are experienced, but the approach is no longer limited to professionals. An application called REA, short for Reverse Engineer Anything, has gone viral over the past several weeks. As of October 20, it had 87,000 forks and 346,000 stars on GitHub. According to its GitHub description, REA “can inspect the app without its source code, explain how the feature works, show the evidence, and build a version for your project.”

The tool can work on software for smartphones and computers, and also on firmware in consumer devices such as TVs, refrigerators, musical instruments and smart frames. Reverse engineering of games is also picking up. Recent projects include full decompilations of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Metroid Prime. The site decomp.dev, which was dedicated to human-led reverse engineering of games, recently announced it is shutting down because AI-driven decompilation has overrun the community, according to a report from 404 Media.

Reaction has been sharply divided. One Reddit commenter who has built Photoshop readers and writers said the file format alone is a challenge, and called Artcraft’s execution exceptionally good. A critic on X called Photocraft’s codebase a mess that “will be unmaintainable in a few months.” Another user who tried the app called it “utter AI-driven slop” that “blatantly infringed” on Adobe’s trademarks and copyrights.

Are AI-built Adobe clones legal?

The legal questions are unsettled. Artcraft’s team says it never used a single line of Adobe’s code. Even so, the clones may have violated trademarks and patents held by Photoshop and other apps. Adobe’s terms of use explicitly prohibit reverse engineering its software to determine how it works.

Whatever the legal outcome, the projects have changed the conversation. A single person skilled with AI can now potentially do what once took a team of engineers. That is likely to produce a flood of poor-quality apps, but it could also push companies like Adobe to rethink business models that many customers already resent.

Cet article a été rédigé avec l'assistance de l'IA.
News Factory APP - actualités agentiques pour booster votre SEO et AEO.