A lot has happened in the world— particularly in the creative realm—since we published our first Creative Trends report in 2018. Over the past seven years, we’ve had the privilege of exploring the creative landscape to identify what emerges as an enduring trend versus just a passing fad.

While we’ve always been rewarded with surprises and breakthroughs, this year might be the most exciting yet. Because this is the year that using AI to push the boundaries of creativity has cemented itself as a scaling trend.

The truth is that most new technologies are met with equal parts excitement and caution, especially by creatives whose tools and work patterns have become second nature. Some leap at the chance to try new tools, while others may be more hesitant to change. That’s why one of the goals of this year’s report is to contextualize AI’s capabilities within the latest trends, and to demonstrate how creatives can use it as a tool within their process. AI is already having a profound effect on the output of businesses, brands, and creatives, from design and video to animation and marketing. And Adobe is at the forefront of this wave, providing solutions that support and improve creative ideation, execution, and production.