I’ve been using Photoshop for years — back when every edit took real patience and creativity. There was something satisfying about spending hours refining one photo until it looked perfect.
Now, with AI tools like Generative Fill and Firefly, Photoshop feels almost unrecognizable. Some of it’s amazing. Some of it… not so much.
Here are 5 ways AI changed Photoshop — for better or worse — and why I still think it’s worth learning the real thing.
Before AI, Photoshop rewarded skill. You could instantly tell when someone really knew their layers, masks, and lighting.
Now anyone can click “Generate” and get something decent. It’s great for beginners — but it also means Photoshop’s magic feels a little less earned.
Still, knowing why something looks good will always matter more than just pressing a button.
AI has a style. You can see it — the same soft shadows, the same slightly-too-perfect lighting.
When everyone uses the same AI tools, images start to lose that human touch. That’s why learning real Photoshop techniques still stands out — your edits actually look different.
Typing a prompt feels powerful, but it’s not the same as designing from scratch.
Real Photoshop work teaches you how to control every pixel — and when you know that, even AI becomes a tool you can bend to your style instead of letting it control you.
Ironically, mastering Photoshop the old way actually helps you use AI faster and better.
If you understand selections, masks, and composition, your AI results instantly improve — because you know what to fix and how to guide it.
AI is great for removing backgrounds or generating quick concepts, but the final polish still needs a human.
Clients, brands, and viewers can tell when an edit feels “machine-made.” That’s where your touch — your taste — makes all the difference.
AI didn’t ruin Photoshop. It just changed the game.
If anything, it made learning Photoshop more valuable — because now, anyone can use AI, but not everyone can create.
If you want to actually learn Photoshop — the kind of skills that make AI work for you, not replace you — I post free tutorials on my YouTube channel.
Come hang out there, and I’ll show you how to make Photoshop fun again.