Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Getty and Shutterstock Unite in AI-Driven Era: A New Chapter for Stock Photography

Getty and Shutterstock, leading stock photo companies, have announced a merger to form a $3.7 billion enterprise, targeting significant cost savings and gearing up to tackle the challenges presented by generative AI tools such as MidJourney and DALL-E.
In a daring shift within the stock photography sector, Getty Images and Shutterstock have announced their merger, forming a company worth approximately $3.7 billion.

This tactical decision, operating under the brand Getty Images, aims to fortify the merged entity against the rising challenges from generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as MidJourney and DALL-E, which are beginning to disrupt the conventional stock photo model.

This merger will transform the stock photography domain by uniting two industry leaders.

Under the deal, Getty’s shareholders will possess 54.7% of the new company, while Shutterstock’s shareholders will retain 45.3%.

The combined entity will be listed under the ticker symbol GETY, with Getty CEO Craig Peters leading the company.

A key motivation for this merger is the swift growth of generative AI in content creation.

AI tools that generate images and videos from text descriptions are increasingly rivaling traditional stock photo services.

Tools like MidJourney and DALL-E enable users to produce high-quality visuals instantly, posing a challenge to the established model where users must pay or license stock images.

The merging companies believe that pooling their resources will enhance their competitive edge in an industry increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

The agreement is projected to achieve annual cost savings ranging from $150 million to $200 million, according to the companies’ statements.

As part of the merger, Shutterstock shareholders have several options: accept $28.80 per share, receive 13.7 Getty shares for each Shutterstock share, or a mix of 9.17 shares plus $9.50 in cash per share.

This variety of options is designed to accommodate different investor preferences, while the company’s new structure will heavily favor Getty’s ownership.

While the deal still awaits regulatory approval, the stock market reaction has been positive.

Following the announcement, Shutterstock’s shares rose by 26.5%, and Getty’s shares surged by 50.2% before the market opened.

However, both companies have seen declining stock prices over the last four years, attributed to the growing use of mobile phone cameras, diminishing the need for conventional stock photo collections.

The merger’s timing is critical as the stock photography industry contends with a shifting market.

Though traditional stock photo services have relied on extensive libraries of images and videos, the advent of generative AI threatens to render these services obsolete for specific applications.

For instance, AI tools like DALL-E now allow users to create intricate, personalized images in seconds based on straightforward text prompts, generating a new wave of competition for established firms.

Despite these hurdles, Getty and Shutterstock remain optimistic about their future.

By uniting their strengths and adapting to the changing landscape, they aim to retain their positions as leading figures in the stock photo industry.

Moreover, they will likely explore incorporating AI technology into their own platforms, leveraging both traditional stock photography and state-of-the-art AI capabilities.

This merger highlights a broader trend in the media and technology sectors where companies are consolidating to tackle AI’s disruptive potential.

As generative AI tools advance, their ongoing impact on industries dependent on traditional creative content, including stock photography, remains to be seen.

For now, Getty and Shutterstock are wagering that their merger will deliver the scale and resources needed to succeed in an AI-driven future.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
×