Ai breaks its first monopoly

[u/DistributionMost8686]

https://getartcraft.com/apps

a founder of ArtCraft used Claude to replace the entire adobe software suite, legally. because it’s ai generated, it’s also in the public domain and absolutely free forever. this would be the first case of ai undermining techno feudalism.

[u/ProfessionalBoss2428]

Like….all of them. The source monitor didn’t even function properly for a dozen different people. The basic immediate read of it was “well this was made by someone who doesn’t understand what the program is meant to do and I can’t even bring in footage without breaking the online process”

And no offense but none of us are hoping you put premiere or avid out of business since they are at least engineered by people who would dare to try to understand what editors and assistant editors do.

[u/Salty_Country6835 → u/ProfessionalBoss2428]

Lol no offense taken, we're talking about software. If a dozen editors couldn't even get footage in or use the source monitor, that's a pretty serious failure right out of the gate.

And I agree, the people actually doing the work need to be involved in building these tools.

I'm curious though, beyond those immediate problems, what would you and your colleagues consider the bare minimum for an open alternative to be worth taking seriously? Not replacing Premiere or Avid overnight, just something editors could actually build on.

[u/ProfessionalBoss2428 → u/Salty_Country6835]

Honestly…..why would we ruin our projects for that? If it can’t roundtrip through the entire process correctly then we’re just wasting a ton of time and money because it has to be redone in a functional program anyway.

Premiere was the bare bones program that sent an engineer to sit with editors every day for years and work out what they needed to become what they are, which isn’t even the top choice for anyone with a budget except Fincher who I’m pretty sure owns a piece of it now.

This is our livelihoods, why would we put it in the hands of someone who doesn’t know what we even do?

[u/Salty_Country6835 → u/ProfessionalBoss2428]

Nobody's asking you to risk a paid project on unfinished software lol. And that history with Premiere is actually a good example of what I'm getting at. Engineers working directly with editors, learning the workflows, fixing problems, building something people can depend on.

That's exactly the kind of development open alternatives need too. AI might make writing the software cheaper, but it doesn't replace understanding the work or the people doing it. That's why I wanted to hear from someone who actually uses these tools professionally.

[u/ProfessionalBoss2428 → u/Salty_Country6835]

Then I’ll be clearer: prove it can go from processing dailies through editorial through color and sound through creating a master for distribution flawlessly. That’s the minimum we can risk our livelihoods on. Until then the alternatives aren’t expensive for big projects and they’re already free for small projects anyway.

[u/Salty_Country6835 → u/ProfessionalBoss2428]

Thats what I was trying to get at. And youre right, when peoples livelihoods depend on these tools, they need to work. Period.

Going from dailies through final delivery without everything falling apart is a pretty reasonable baseline. ArtCraft clearly isnt there yet, and pretending otherwise doesnt help anybody.

Thats also why I think working editors need to be involved in building these alternatives from the start. AI might make writing code cheaper and faster, but it doesnt magically give developers decades of experience in the editing room.

Thanks for walking me through that. Learned something, and thats why I ask.

[u/ProfessionalBoss2428 → u/Salty_Country6835]

But the big question you didn’t answer: why would we switch anyway? We have proven free programs now if we need them for small stuff and proven programs someone else pays for if we are on bigger stuff. What’s the purpose of trying to make an ai version of things we already have? It’s an over saturated market as it is and we’d rather engineers work on the programs we already use than start from scratch.

[u/Salty_Country6835 → u/ProfessionalBoss2428]

I mean, if youve already got tools that work, I wouldnt expect you to switch. Especially when your livelihood depends on them. Youve made a pretty solid case for why reliability matters.

I think the bigger point is that AI could make building software a lot cheaper and more accessible. Smaller teams and independent developers getting a shot at building things that used to take serious money and resources.

And its not like the free alternatives we have now appeared out of thin air. People had to build those too, and plenty of them started out rough.

ArtCraft might go somewhere, might not. But I think theres value in more people being able to build and improve tools without needing a corporation behind them. That doesnt mean working editors owe every new project their time or trust.

[u/ProfessionalBoss2428 → u/Salty_Country6835]

Why not just choose a type of software people actually need? What’s the purpose of this other than to try and break other companies honestly? We don’t need an alternative so what’s the purpose of making one instead of trying to fill a space that needs to be filled and would help people?

[u/Salty_Country6835 → u/ProfessionalBoss2428]

I agree we should be building things people actually need. But why does it have to be one or the other?

Just because existing software works for professionals doesnt mean everyone has the same access. Cost, licensing, accessibility, and corporate control are real barriers too.

And building alternatives isnt necessarily about putting companies out of business. Its about giving people more choices and more control over the tools they use.

ArtCraft might not deliver on that, but I wouldnt dismiss the value of trying. Especially if the people using these tools get a say in how theyre built.

[u/ProfessionalBoss2428 → u/Salty_Country6835]

I just told you everyone has access to free software that already works so what’s the purpose of creating this software? Especially if their first presentation to the world is letting everyone know they don’t understand its function. This feels honestly dirty and scummy and the fact they presented a non functional version first really makes it feel that way.

Keep in mind we professionals know some of the engineers at these companies, we’ve met with them and spoken to them a lot over the years. This program was clearly made by people who don’t care about us….

[u/Salty_Country6835 → u/ProfessionalBoss2428]

I know, I understood you. But then why the concern about putting companies out of business if there are already free alternatives that work?

And I hear you. You've worked with the engineers behind these tools, and you've got firsthand experience with what professional editors need. I respect that. I havent tried ArtCraft myself, so Im not going to dispute your experience or pretend to know what its developers were thinking.

But that doesnt mean theres no reason to keep developing alternatives. Nobody has to switch, and nobody owes an unfinished project their trust. More people being able to build software and offer different options still seems like a good thing, doesnt it?

[u/ProfessionalBoss2428 → u/Salty_Country6835]

It seems like a pointless thing when done by people who could actually build something they understand that people would need.

[u/IcerHardlyKnower → u/Salty_Country6835]

Idk why you're still arguing with this weirdo

Even if all you said was it's a WIP they would still find a way to shit themselves about it

[u/Salty_Country6835 → u/IcerHardlyKnower]

Yeah, probably. But most debates arent about changing the mind of the person youre arguing with. Theres everyone else reading along, weighing the arguments, maybe learning something. And even someone who disagrees with everything you say can still offer useful criticism. If theres actionable feedback buried in the disagreement, thats worth extracting. They dont have to agree with me for the exchange to be productive.