Keeping up with AI?
The problem with AI that what is news on Monday is history by Thursday lunchtime. The best way to find out the current state of AI programmes is to ask AI – regularly. We haven’t done this for a while so we asked Gemini for a review of the five AI programmes that art teachers might find interesting.
As always treat AI as suggestions and use your own professional judgement. ed
1. Adobe Firefly (via Creative Cloud for Education)
Adobe Firefly remains the gold standard for “ethical AI” in schools. In 2026, its integration into Photoshop and Illustrator has become seamless, allowing students to use Generative Fill and Vector Expansion to refine their manual digital work.
- Benefits: It teaches industry-standard workflows. Students learn how to use AI as a component of a larger project rather than a “one-click” solution.
- Strengths: Trained exclusively on Adobe Stock and public domain content, it avoids the copyright controversies of other models.
- Weaknesses: Requires a higher learning curve compared to standalone web tools.
- Safeguarding Issues: High level of protection; Adobe’s enterprise education accounts are GDPR-compliant and include content filtering that aligns with UK school standards.
- Cost: Included in Creative Cloud Pro Plus for Education. Most UK secondary schools already have access to this through their existing licensing.
2. Canva Magic Studio
Canva has transformed from a simple design tool into a powerhouse of AI. Its “Magic Media” and “Style Match” features allow students to generate graphics that perfectly match the aesthetic of their existing portfolios.
- Benefits: Incredibly low barrier to entry. Perfect for creating exhibition posters, digital sketchbooks, and branding projects.
- Strengths: The “Image to Video” feature (new for 2026) allows students to animate their still artworks with a single click, adding a dynamic layer to digital submissions.
- Weaknesses: Output can sometimes feel “generic” compared to dedicated artistic models like Midjourney.
- Safeguarding Issues: Excellent. Canva for Education is 100% free for K-12 schools and is built with robust safety filters for younger users.
- Cost: Free for UK teachers and students (Verified Education version).
3. Midjourney (v7/v8)
For pure aesthetic quality, Midjourney is unmatched. It is the tool of choice for teaching “concept art” and exploring complex lighting, texture, and surrealism.
- Benefits: Encourages “prompt engineering” as a literacy skill. It’s brilliant for generating high-fidelity mood boards or “what if” scenarios for sculpture and installation art.
- Strengths: Unparalleled artistic nuance. The 2026 updates (v8) have finally mastered text rendering and 2K native resolution.
- Weaknesses: Primarily web or Discord-based, which can be difficult to manage in a classroom setting without a dedicated portal.
- Safeguarding Issues: Higher risk. The open nature of the community galleries requires careful supervision. Usage is generally restricted to 13+ (with parental consent) or 18+.
- Cost: Subscription-based (Basic plans from approx. £8/month). Often requires a departmental budget.
4. Vizcom
Vizcom is a specialist tool that has become a favourite for Design and Technology (DT) and 3D Art teachers. It takes a student’s hand-drawn 2D sketch and renders it into a photo-realistic 3D object in seconds.
- Benefits: Bridging the gap between a rough sketch and a “finished” product. It rewards students who can draw well by giving their ideas professional polish.
- Strengths: Preserves the “original spark” of the student’s own line work while applying realistic materials like chrome, glass, or fabric.
- Weaknesses: Highly specialized for product and industrial design; less useful for abstract or fine art.
- Safeguarding Issues: Enterprise versions are available for education with private “Workbenches” that keep student data secure.
- Cost: Free tier available; Pro versions for schools offer collaborative features.
5. ChatGPT Plus (DALL-E 3)
While often thought of as a text tool, ChatGPT’s integration with DALL-E 3 makes it the most “conversational” art assistant. A student can describe a concept, get feedback on the art history behind it, and then generate a visual representation in one thread.
- Benefits: Acts as a 1-to-1 tutor. It can suggest artists for students to research based on the descriptions they provide.
- Strengths: Exceptionally good at following complex, specific instructions (e.g., “An oil painting in the style of Turner but with a 21st-century London skyline”).
- Weaknesses: Can occasionally produce “uncanny” or overly polished results that lack “soul” if not guided carefully.
- Safeguarding Issues: Requires strict adherence to the school’s AI Policy. As of 2026, it meets the DfE’s Generative AI Product Safety Standards for filtered content.
- Cost: Free version available (limited); Plus version is approx. £16/month.
You Tube?
This video offers a practical look at how these tools are being integrated into creative workflows this year.