Adobe has rolled out a new version of its Portable Document Format (PDF) software, infused with generative artificial intelligence (AI) features. This update marks a significant shift in how users interact with PDFs, moving away from traditional writing, editing, and analysis to AI-driven actions. The software includes a chatbot assistant that can answer user questions about document contents, allowing users to upload multiple documents and customize how the chatbot assistant responds to queries.
The introduction of AI-powered PDFs signifies the end of "chatbot-less software." Users can no longer interact with apps without encountering multiple generative AI tools. While some power users enjoy AI features, many signs point to growing user exhaustion with AI dominance in software releases.
Michi Alexander, vice president of product marketing at Adobe, sees this update as an opportunity to redefine what a PDF is. Duff Johnson, CEO of the PDF Association, notes that Adobe has previously innovated with the PDF format, such as adding transparency support. This latest release represents a significant moment in time, marking the beginning of an AI-driven era in software development.
As Adobe Acrobat Studio leverages AI to automate tasks, changing the user experience, it's clear that the company is pushing the boundaries of what's possible with PDFs. Whether users will adapt to this new AI-centric approach remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the PDF landscape will never be the same.
