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How AI is reshaping stock photography

Photographers and illustrators ask me this question a lot: “Kim, is AI going to take my job?” The answer? It’s tricky. Yes, there’s growing competition between AI and human artists. But if you’re smart about using AI, it can become your secret weapon.

Take stock photo companies like Dreamstime. They’re using AI as a helpful assistant. It’s speeding up workflows, making images easier to find and filling in niche gaps that are tough to tackle. Let’s break it down.

Work smarter, not harder

Most photo sites first jumped on the AI bandwagon years ago after they saw the number of pics uploaded to their platforms skyrocket. At first, these tools handled repetitive stuff like checking model releases and paperwork. This freed up their staff to focus on the creative side.

Fast forward to today: AI catches blurry pics, overexposed shots and copyright issues. Only the top submissions go to human reviewers for final checks. Plus, AI learns and adapts to trends, so content stays fresh. Need a quick image of a futuristic city? That’s perfect for AI.

Dreamstime’s team is loving it. It cuts down review times, a game-changer for news content that must get out quickly. This helps them stay competitive and keep their customers happy.

Faster uploads = more visibility

Tagging photos? Any photographer or illustrator can tell you that it’s tedious and time-consuming. That’s where Dreamstime’s AI-powered keyword tools come in. They’re trained on billions of images and can whip up metadata in a flash, so you can get back to making more content.

But that’s not all. AI looks at what buyers want and helps your work get noticed. Forget spammy keywords. AI suggests the best tags based on what’s hot, seasonal trends, and even geolocation. It’s like having an intern who knows what’s in demand.

Not just for creatives

Buyers are fans of it, too. Dreamstime’s AI constantly analyzes what people are searching for, then customizes search results to match. The result is a win-win.

Picture this: You need an image for a specific event. AI sorts through all the options, so the most relevant images pop up first. This makes hunting down the right content a breeze.

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Clutter crushers

📦 Kick that mess to the curb in style.

🛍️ I can’t live without these: I reorder these 20 little game changers all the time. They’ll make your life easier, too.

10 true tech stories you can stream right now

ChatGPT

I’m way more into movies based on true stories. Real people, real drama, that’s my kind of thing. You can keep the wizards and aliens. Give me a story where something unbelievable actually happened. 

I put together this list for you as proof that tech isn’t just lines of code or shiny gadgets. It’s ambition, hype, brilliance and yeah, sometimes a total train wreck. You’re gonna want to see each one.

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🏠 All it takes is one forged signature: Cybercriminals can steal your home, take out loans and leave you buried in debt. Get a free title history report and 14-day trial at Home Title Lock with code KIM.

🛠️ Hood’s up, scam’s on: Scammers are showing up to buy your car and sabotaging it mid-sale. They’re pouring oil into the coolant to fake engine issues, then trying to lowball you into selling the vehicle cheap. Even if you don’t fall for it, you’re stuck with a mess and a repair bill. 

What a time to write

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With AI tools, it’s easier than ever to fake your way through school, work — anything.

By the numbers

14 months

How long you’ll sit in prison for faking an ID and hijacking the SEC’s Twitter. Eric Council Jr. SIM swapped his way into the SEC’s X account with a bogus ID, dropped a fake Bitcoin ETF approval tweet and briefly spiked and tanked the Bitcoin price. The feds didn’t LOL. Now he’s got over a year to think about it.

💸 Skip paying for Office: Why shell out for Microsoft Office when Google Workspace is free? If you’ve got a Google account, you can whip up docs, slides and spreadsheets right in your browser. No installs, no fuss. Since it’s all in the cloud, you can log in from anywhere and share stuff when you need to.

Beware the Wi-Fi Pineapple trick

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It’s no tropical treat. If your phone auto-connects to public Wi-Fi, you might get burned.

JPMorgan flip-flops: CEO Jamie Dimon still hates crypto, but now JPMorgan’s letting clients buy it. You won’t get custody or a warm hug … just ETFs on your monthly statement. Think of it as cold, regulatory-compliant enthusiasm. He’s basically telling you, “Don’t vape, but if you must, do it through your investment account.”

Vroom vroom

🚗 That’s the sound of your next trip starting strong.

  • Let your phone and small stuff ride shotgun with a bike bag (8% off).
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🇺🇸 Memorial Day savings: Here’s that special link to save big on the best gadgets for your ride.

23andMe data sold for $256M

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Your DNA is now in the hands of biotech giant Regeneron. They say they’ll protect it. Plus, Owen Wilson deepfake scams, Meta lets fraud off the hook, and phone-free vacations. Got T-Mobile? Here’s how to claim your part of the $350M data breach settlement.

40-foot submarine-hunting drone

The “BlueWhale” uses special sensors to spot underwater and surface threats, and can help clear mines. The cool bit? It’s fully autonomous and runs on batteries for weeks. Basically, a Roomba’s scarier cousin with serious military vibes.

👁️ New Orleans secret surveillance: For two years, police used facial recognition to track people in real time. They tapped into a private network of cameras to scan crowds for anyone on a wanted list and sent alerts to officers. The twist? It might not have been legal. The program’s now paused (paywall link).

Copy text with your iPhone camera: Go to Settings > General > Language & Region and turn on Live Text. Then head to Settings > Camera and toggle on Show Detected Text. Open the Camera app, line up the document and tap the Live Text icon. Now grab the text and paste it into Notes.

Kim Komando Show

Deepfake Elon stole millions — May 17th, Hour 1

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Want billions like Musk? Don’t fall for this crypto scam. Some people are paying $217K to freeze their bodies. I’ll also share five signs your phone might be tapped. Plus, I talk to Randy from Oregon, who wants to cash in on a viral video.

Gourmet gear

👩‍🍳 Cooking is way more fun with the right stuff.

  • These stretchy food huggers ($18) keep your fruits and veggies fresh.
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🦖 Jurassic breakfast: This mini-waffle maker (30% off) turns batter into dinosaur-shaped treats in minutes.

🌐 Browser acting weird? Extensions or broken settings could be messing things up. Time for a reset. In Chrome, go to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults. Using Firefox? Head to Menu > Help > More Troubleshooting information, then click Refresh Firefox and confirm.

🚨 Update Chrome ASAP: Google dropped an emergency patch to fix a flaw that could let hackers take over your accounts. Don’t wait. Go to Settings > About Chrome and make sure you’re up to date. Windows and Linux should be on version 136.0.7103.113. macOS should be on 136.0.7103.114.