{
  "id": 13516787,
  "title": "“Always AI-free” says iStock – before immediately encouraging you to AI-edit its photos!",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/always-ai-free-says-istock-before-immediately-encouraging-you-to-ai",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-10T17:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Digital Camera World",
    "slug": "digital-camera-world",
    "url": "https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/photography/websites-and-stock-photography/always-ai-free-says-istock-before-immediately-encouraging-you-to-ai-edit-its-photos"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Stock image provider iStock claims to be \"Always AI-free,\" but immediately encourages users to use artificial intelligence to edit its photos. Despite its assurances of human-created visuals, iStock's homepage prominently displays the message \"always AI free.\" However, the moment a user purchases a photo, iStock prompts them to customize it using AI. Selecting the \"Remove Background\" button often leaves users with partial results, such as a kitchen worktop without a background. Users can utilize a text box at the top of the page to request changes, like transforming a plant to green. Additionally, users can prompt iStock's AI to make other edits, such as changing a bath to bright pink. The company finds itself caught between two camps, attempting to please AI-skeptics while also offering AI-assisted editing to capitalize on the trend.",
  "summary": "iStock promises that every image in its library is made by humans, but then encourages customers to modify those images with AI",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}