Create product images with AI? Advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence for professional product content

Revolution for product images through AI?

The question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the generation of product images is currently occupying many industry experts. From e-commerce giants to small retailers, everyone is looking for ways to create stunning product images efficiently and cost-effectively. The rapid development of AI technologies promises many benefits, but there are also challenges and alternatives that must be considered.

Artificial intelligence has already made considerable progress in creating product images. Through machine learning and neural networks, AI-based tools can now generate realistic and high-quality images. Despite these advances, the question remains open as to whether AI can completely replace traditional methods or simply complement them.

Benefits of AI in creating product images

saving time

One of the biggest advantages of AI in image creation is the significant time savings. Traditional photography and post-processing can be time-consuming, especially when a variety of products have to be photographed in various variants. AI-based tools can significantly speed up this process by automatically generating images that are immediately ready for use. This enables companies to react more quickly to market changes and present their products promptly.

Cost savings through automation

Another significant advantage of AI technology is the reduction of costs through automation. Traditional photo shoots often require expensive equipment, professional photographers, and complex post-processing. With AI, many of these steps can be automated, resulting in significant cost savings. The one-time investment in AI software can quickly pay off, as there are no recurring costs for photography and editing.

scalability

AI also offers impressive scalability when it comes to creating product images. While traditional methods quickly reach their limits when it comes to large quantities of products, AI can easily generate thousands of images that are optimized for various marketing channels. However, there are still challenges to overcome, particularly the consistency of the images. AI systems tend to produce so-called hallucinations, which alienate the product. Despite this challenge, the potential for AI to scale remains huge.

Disadvantages and challenges of using AI

inconsistency

A key problem when using AI to create product images is inconsistency. While AI is able to produce impressive images, the consistent quality across various prompts is often lacking. This inconsistency can result in an inconsistent appearance, which can be problematic for brands with high quality standards. Technology may continue to evolve, but until perfect consistency is achieved, it remains a challenge.

hallucinations

Another significant problem is the so-called hallucinations. These are cases where the AI creates false or falsified representations of the product. These hallucinations can affect the credibility and authenticity of product images. Until these technological challenges are fully addressed, the use of AI could be limited to supporting functions such as creating backgrounds and environments for product images.

Ethical and legal concerns

Using AI to create product images also raises ethical and legal issues. These include concerns about copyrights, data usage, and potential distortions caused by algorithms. It is important that companies carefully review these aspects and ensure that their use of AI complies with applicable laws and ethical standards.

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Example: CGI versus AI generated product images

RenderThat created a CGI visualization (Computer Generated Imagery) of a specific product for the mattress company Emma. In compliance with corporate visual guidelines, the team had to realistically present all materials. In addition, RenderThat had to visually convey the feeling of comfort and comfort in all scenarios, such as this abstract, blue showroom with a gray bed and mattress by Emma.

If you give these guidelines to a very good artificial intelligence for image creation, such as Midjourney, you get many different results.

This is exciting and can fulfill many purposes in the process of design and design. But not exactly what you want.

Generative AI such as DALL-E, Midjourney or Stable DifFfusion are very exciting, for example for creating mood boards or even for visualizing interiors and exteriors, i.e. the environment for the products. This is because the product itself must not be created visually while hallucinating. But when it comes to surroundings, scenery and props, creativity and a bit of hallucination are sometimes just the right thing.

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Alternative methods for product visualization

CGI and 3D visualization

Despite the impressive advancements in AI, traditional computer graphics (CGI) and 3D visualization a robust alternative for product presentation. These technologies provide high precision and control that are essential for many applications. CGI makes it possible to display products in almost any environment and offers flexibility that is difficult to achieve with traditional methods. Many service providers are now combining the benefits of CGI and AI to get the best of both worlds.

Conclusion: The future of product images with AI

The future of product images will undoubtedly be shaped by the integration of artificial intelligence. While AI has already made significant progress and offers many benefits, there are also challenges that must be overcome. Combining AI and traditional methods like CGI could be the key to getting the best results. The further development of these technologies will make it possible to create product images even faster, more cost-effectively and of the highest quality.

Recommendations for action for product and marketing managers

For product and marketing managers who are concerned with the question of how they can best visualize their products, there are a few key recommendations:

• Choose service providers carefully and make sure they have experience with both AI technologies and traditional methods such as CGI.
• Consider the consistency and quality of the images you produce. Make sure the technology meets your brand needs
• Pay attention to ethical and legal aspects. Make sure that the use of AI complies with applicable laws and standards.
• Take advantage of automation through AI to save time and money without sacrificing quality.

More insights into how AI is changing marketing and content can be found in this Article featuring the interview by AI founder Jonathan Mall.

FAQ

What are the key benefits of using AI to create product images?

The main benefits are time savings, cost savings through automation and scalability. AI can significantly speed up the image creation process and reduce costs by automating many manual steps.

What are the challenges of using AI for product images?

The biggest challenges include inconsistency in image quality and so-called hallucinations, in which the AI creates falsified representations of the product. Ethical and legal concerns must also be addressed.

What are the alternative methods for product visualization?

In addition to AI-based image creation, CGI and 3D visualization offer robust alternatives. These technologies enable accurate and flexible presentation of products in various environments and can be used in combination with AI to achieve optimal results.

For more information about the capabilities of Computer Generated Imagery and 3D, visit this Article on the potential of CGI in e-commerce.

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