Transparent AI-platform aims to reimagine stock image libraries

Lobster’s AI-powered searches help brands find and license images and videos that fit a company’s branding style

Ethical stock imagery platform Lobster connects organisations seeking high-quality media with the owners of content shared on social platforms. Completely reinventing the stock image library, Lobster’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered searches help brands find and license images and videos that fit a company’s branding style. The AI filters in much greater detail than traditional tags, and users can search on 10 social media platforms for everything from mood to location and diversity. 

All searches include a quality ranking to reduce time spent scrolling through blurry images. After licensing, an image’s resolution can be increased by up to sixteen times for use in print. Lobster uses blockchain for transparency, and creators are paid for their work after agreeing a licensing agreement. Lobster pays a 75 percent commission on any work used and takes on the full administrative burden of tagging, invoicing and licensing. As a further benefit to creators, Lobster partnered with KodakOne to support a post-licensing service to track unfair use of material. 

Selected for the Createch 2019 Ones to Watch, produced by the Creative Industries Council with the support of Digital Catapult, London & Partners and Springwise.