With tools like DALL-E spitting out works of art in seconds, it's easy to feel like AI is a threat to creative professions rather than a helpful assistant.

However, with the right tools, artists and creators can benefit from AI-powered solutions to help them streamline their processes, save time, and work more efficiently—without compromising on ethics.

Here, we've compiled some of the best ethical AI tools for artists and creators.

1. Adobe Audio Enhancer

screenshot of adobe audio enhance tool

Getting the required equipment to record an audio or video without background noise can be expensive, and buying a professional sound mixer is out of reach for most artists. Turns out this is a great example of how AI can help make life easier for creators.

With Adobe's Audio Enhancer, creative professionals can easily clean up and enhance their sound recordings with no professional skills required. The tool uses advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze sound recordings and automatically fix audio issues such as distortion, noise, background hums, and pops.

2. Audio Transcribers

Black Microphone

Thanks to AI, transcription is becoming an easier task. With a powerful audio transcriber, artists can easily convert their audio recordings into text documents for easy editing and annotation. AI-powered tools such as Otter.ai provide users with an accurate transcription of their recordings in just a few minutes.

Other popular AI-powered audio transcribers include:

3. Audio-Synced Subtitle Generators

A Laptop Playing a video with subtitle

Manually syncing video files with transcribed text is a time-consuming and tedious process. If you want your transcripts to be synced to your videos, a subtitle generator might be what you need.

AI-powered and auto subtitle generators can automate this task and make it much easier and faster. These tools use speech recognition algorithms to accurately create and sync text with video files, allowing artists to quickly create subtitles.

Some popular AI-powered subtitle generators include:

4. Silence Removers

Black and Gray Audio Mixer

AI-powered silence removers are a great way to streamline the editing process. These tools use machine learning algorithms to scan an audio recording for periods of silence and automatically trim them out. This makes it easy to condense long audio recordings into shorter and more digestible versions.

Instead of manually removing the "uhms" and "ahs" from podcast recordings, use a silence remover tool. Some of the best AI-powered silence removers include:

5. Instant Background Removers

before and after of photo with removed background

If your creative process involves creating digital art or adding elements to existing photographs, then you know how tedious it can be to cut out backgrounds from images. Fortunately, AI-powered background removers can help streamline this process.

These tools use advanced image recognition algorithms to detect and remove image backgrounds in seconds. This helps make the image editing process much faster and more efficient.

Some instant background removers you can use for free include:

6. Black and White Photo Colorizers

before and after of colorized photo

The nostalgia that comes with black and white photos is undeniable—and now, it's easier than ever to bring those old photos back to life. AI-powered colorizers can help add a new layer of realism and emotion to black and white images.

These tools use machine learning algorithms to colorize black and white photos, creating stunningly realistic results. This makes it easy for creators to bring an old image back to life with just a few clicks.

Some of the most popular AI-powered photo colorizers include:

7. Adobe Podcast (Formerly Project Shasta)

Adobe Project shasta homepage

If you're a podcaster, Adobe's AI-powered podcast tool can help make your recording and editing process easier and more efficient. The tool uses machine learning algorithms to perform sound checks and guides on how to improve sound quality.

The tool also features a text-based editor which allows you to cut out unnecessary sounds using the transcript generated from your recording. Adobe Podcast provides podcasters with collaboration tools for remote recording.

Adobe Podcast is yet to be released publicly. However, you can request access via the Project Shasta page on the Adobe website.

8. Image Upscaling Tools

Image upscale design

If you want to create high-quality digital art or graphics, using large images is essential. However, not all images are available in large sizes. In such cases, image upscaling tools can come in handy.

AI-powered image upscaling tools use machine learning algorithms to enlarge images without sacrificing quality. With these tools, artists and creators can create high-resolution versions of small images quickly and easily.

Below are some of the best AI-powered image upscaling tools:

9. Bokeh Effects Generators

Bokeh Effect

Bokeh effects are a great way to add dimension and texture to videos and photographs. These effects make the background of an image appear blurry and dreamy.

Creating bokeh effects usually requires complex editing techniques, and you can also create Bokeh effects with your camera. However, with AI-powered bokeh effects generators, you can add this special touch to your photographs and videos with just a few clicks.

Some of the best AI-powered bokeh effect generators include:

10. Background Blur Tools

Elderly man smiling

Sometimes, you need to keep the focus on an object or element in a photograph. This is where background blur tools come in handy. But what happens when you need to blur a busy background? Traditional blurring techniques, while very effective, can be time-consuming.

AI-powered background blur tools use machine learning algorithms to detect the background of an image and blur it in seconds.

Editors with background blur tools include:

Using Ethical AI Tools to Make Your Job Easier

AI seems to be the antithesis of anything art related. Not to mention, many AI tools have come under fire for their blatant disregard for copyrighted work.

However, the tools we've shared above prove that AI technology can actually aid creative processes without the need to rely on others' creations. From audio enhancers to image upscalers and bokeh generators, AI-powered tools can help creators be more efficient and productive in an ethical way.