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Adobe Releases Firefly Generative AI Video Tools In Beta
The model powers new features such as Generative Extend and text-to-video, with tools also coming to Photoshop and Frame.io.
Adobe has officially entered the generative AI (GAI) arena by rolling out its Firefly Video Model, designed to power various features across the company’s extensive suite of apps. At Adobe MAX, the company announced that several of these new tools are now available in beta.
One of the standout features, known as Generative Extend, was first previewed earlier this year within Adobe Premiere Pro. The tool enables editors to add AI-generated footage or audio to either the start or end of a clip, which can be particularly helpful when a necessary shot is missing, or the transition feels incomplete.
In September, Adobe also showcased additional tools, including a text-to-video feature similar to those from OpenAI and Meta, as well as image-to-video capabilities. Both of these tools are now available in beta within the Firefly web app — though access may require joining a waitlist.
Like other Firefly models, the Firefly Video Model and its associated features are designed with commercial safety in mind. Content Credentials watermarks are automatically applied to any AI-generated content.
On the Photoshop front, Adobe has also rolled out features that were previewed earlier this year. The latest Firefly Image Model powers Generative Fill and Generative Expand, which Adobe says can create images up to four times faster than before. There’s also the new Generate Similar tool, which allows users to create alternate versions of an object in a photo until they find the ideal match.
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Additionally, Photoshop’s Remove tool has been enhanced with a feature called Distraction Removal. This new option lets users quickly erase certain elements, such as wires, cables, or even people, from images — similar to Google’s Magic Eraser.
Finally, Frame.io V4 has launched, marking the largest update to Adobe’s collaborative platform since its debut nearly a decade ago. With a full redesign aimed at enhancing workflows and improving the video player, the update also introduces support for Canon, Nikon, and Leica’s Camera to Cloud (C2C) feature, meaning most major manufacturers now support direct uploads of photos and videos to Frame.io.
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Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform
Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.
Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.
The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.
Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.
Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.
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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.
“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.
Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.
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