Stock image technology has long been the playground of the creative. With little worry about copyright strikes or artistic complaints, those seeking to add color and spice to their works can browse compendiums of seemingly countless photos, videos and graphics.
But with anything in the tech field, change is inevitable, along with the ethical arena in which it operates. The rise of OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 image generator has ushered in an era of machine-made imagery trained by the works of real artists, igniting moral debate that has engulfed both the tech and art world. And at the intersection of that diagram, companies like Getty Images — one of the largest visual content marketplaces — are looking to stay ahead of the changing winds by bolstering their ranks.
“Imagery is one of the remaining bastions of authenticity and truth,” said Arj Ugarow, Getty Images’ talent acquisition manager of technology and product.
Imagery is one of the remaining bastions of authenticity and truth.”
Integrity of visual creativity is an ever-present mission statement championed by those with the means to protect it, especially in a digital era defined by multimedia content. As the standard-bearers for democratized visuals, employees at the Seattle-based company remain highly versatile and collaborative across teams to tackle changes in the industry. Now, they’re looking to recruit more members for their cause.
To see how this mission is carried out and what hires would make a good fit, Built In Seattle sat down with Getty Images for a snapshot of its work culture and aligned vision for the creative future.
What’s one word you would use to describe your colleagues?
I would use the word Agile in the software development life cycle sense. Employees at Getty Images are highly competent in their professional field, but also flexible and adaptable to the shifts and changes in our industry and markets globally. We can pivot at any given time to achieve a more efficient or desired outcome.
Why is your industry an exciting place to work right now, and what role does Getty Images play within it?
In the world we live in today, verifiable facts are often difficult to discern from opinions, but an image or video can set the record straight in an instant.
The technology that fuels Getty Images’ commitment to moving the world is unmatched. Our imagery and videos can go from camera to customer in as little as 30 seconds.
The software engineering, AI, data science and machine learning teams here at Getty Images are second to none and work cross-functionally with our content team to ensure the very best for our customers.
