Adobe Inc. has integrated an AI chatbot into Acrobat, its widely used PDF software. The chatbot, introduced today in an update for Acrobat’s paid versions, is part of Adobe’s initiative to incorporate generative AI features across its software lineup. While Adobe has primarily focused on integrating AI into its Creative Cloud suite containing tools like Photoshop, the AI Assistant is now available to Acrobat users.
Users can access the AI Assistant via a new button located in the upper right corner of the interface. This ChatGPT-like chatbot can provide document summaries, answer specific queries about the content, and suggest follow-up questions for further exploration. Adobe has ensured the chatbot’s responses include clickable citations, allowing users to verify the accuracy of the information provided. By clicking on a citation, users can view the specific section of the PDF document from which the information was derived.
The AI Assistant’s output can be tailored to the user’s project needs. For instance, if the user specifies that the text will be used in an email, the chatbot can include a subject line. For presentations, the AI Assistant can organize generated text into concise bullet points and provide an introduction.
Future updates from Adobe will significantly enhance the AI Assistant’s capabilities. The chatbot is expected to evolve beyond text generation to include document layout design features. This enhancement will be facilitated by integrating Firefly, Adobe’s generative AI image editing tool available in Creative Cloud applications like Photoshop. Firefly enables users to create images using natural language commands, manipulate object positions, alter styles, and remove unnecessary elements with precision.
Adobe’s roadmap includes empowering the AI Assistant to generate initial drafts, modify tone, shorten text, and incorporate AI-driven collaboration features based on user feedback. The company aims to position Acrobat as a stronger competitor to Microsoft Word, which also offers AI functionalities through its chatbot Copilot. However, Acrobat’s AI Assistant, with its upcoming Firefly integration for document design, may prompt Microsoft to introduce similar graphic design capabilities leveraging its partnership with OpenAI for advanced image generation models.
Currently in beta for Acrobat’s Standard and Pro versions, the AI Assistant caters to different user needs. The Standard tier, priced at \(13 per month, provides extensive document editing features, while the Pro edition, available for \)20 per month, includes advanced features like an electronic signature tool.
As part of Adobe’s Document Cloud product portfolio, Acrobat contributes significantly to the company’s revenue, with AI capabilities already integrated. In 2021, Adobe introduced the PDF Extract API, a machine learning service that automates text extraction from documents for integration with external systems such as databases or AI training tools.
