Adobe acquires image and video enhancement tool maker Topaz Labs

In a significant move to enhance its creative offerings, Adobe announced on Thursday that it will acquire Topaz Labs, a company renowned for its AI-driven tools designed for image and video enhancement. With a legacy spanning over two decades, Topaz Labs has garnered accolades for its innovative technology, including an Emmy award for its production solutions last year. Topaz Labs has developed cutting-edge AI models, such as Astra for video upscaling and Wonder for image retouching, that have revolutionized the way professionals edit visual media. The startup has also pioneered technology that enables the operation of large video models on standard consumer-grade GPUs, making powerful editing tools more accessible. Adobe plans to integrate Topaz's advanced models into its Firefly AI application and various other components within its image and video editing suites. Moreover, Topaz's offerings will remain available as standalone services on Adobe's platform, ensuring users have flexible options at their disposal. Deepa Subramaniam, Vice President of Product Marketing for Creative Cloud at Adobe, emphasized the value Topaz Labs brings to the table. She noted that professionals looking to merge real-world footage with AI-generated clips can utilize Topaz's products for enhancing detail, minimizing noise, and restoring older footage. Subramaniam stated, "Topaz Labs brings deep expertise in optimizing large, complex AI models to run directly on device, a capability that will allow Adobe to deliver faster, more responsive experiences for customers and make advanced AI more accessible and cost-effective for creatives." This acquisition comes at a time when Adobe faces stiff competition from platforms like Canva and Blackmagic Design, the latter known for its DaVinci Resolve software. By integrating AI technologies across its suite of applications and creating a dedicated AI-centric media editing studio with Firefly, Adobe aims to keep its users engaged and prevent them from exploring alternative software solutions for video and image editing. The deal is expected to finalize in the latter half of 2026.