A survey of 1,000 business workers across Japan conducted by Adobe found that roughly 60 percent use image-generation AI in their jobs[1]. Not a single respondent said they avoid generative AI entirely at work, and the technology appears especially well established among younger workers. At the same time, concerns over copyright and data leakage remain strong, highlighting the need for an environment where these tools can be used with confidence.

Generative AI Has Taken Hold Across All Age Groups

One striking finding is that 0 percent of respondents said they do not use generative AI in their work[1]. Although the frequency varied, every respondent uses generative AI in some form on the job.

Among those in their 20s and 30s, about half reported using it "almost every day" or "three to four times a week," showing that younger workers tend to use it more frequently[1]. The main purposes are improving efficiency and saving time, and it is applied across a wide range of work situations. Generative AI is becoming an everyday tool rather than something reserved for a handful of specialists, regardless of job type or age.

Image-Generation AI Centers on Ideation and Document Creation

Looking specifically at image-generation AI, those using it "almost every day" or "once or twice a week or more" combined reach about 60 percent[1]. The leading uses are "ideation" at 40.7 percent and "illustrations and design for internal documents" at 38.0 percent, centered on internal work[1].

By contrast, use for external-facing materials stays at around 20 percent[1]. While workers actively use these tools for internal efficiency and richer expression, they remain cautious about applying them to deliverables that reach clients and customers. The concerns over copyright and rights issues described below likely contribute to this gap.

Concerns Over Copyright and Data Leakage Remain Deep-Rooted

Even as adoption spreads, challenges have come into focus. The top concerns about using image-generation AI were "risk of copyright infringement" at 30.9 percent, "infringement of portrait rights and privacy" at 30.4 percent, and "risk of data leakage" at 27.7 percent, with rights- and security-related anxieties dominating the list[1].

Notably, these concerns are directly tied to room for growth. About 70 percent of image-generation AI users said that "if there were no risk of copyright infringement, the occasions and uses for it at work would increase beyond what they are now"[1]. Furthermore, even among those not currently using image-generation AI, about 40 percent said they "would use it if there were no risk," indicating considerable latent demand[1]. If mechanisms to remove these risks fall into place, there appears to be further room for adoption to expand.

Calls for Provenance Disclosure and Adobe's Response

The survey also reflects rising awareness of trustworthiness. About 60 percent of respondents said that for content created with generative AI, provenance information such as how it was made and which AI tools were used should be disclosed[1]. The leading reasons were "ensuring reliability and transparency" at 54.3 percent, "protecting copyright and intellectual property" at 54.8 percent, and "countering misinformation and fake content" at 45.7 percent[1].

In response to these issues, Adobe has outlined its own efforts. The company says training for its image-generation AI "Adobe Firefly" uses only properly licensed content such as Adobe Stock and public-domain material whose copyright protection has expired, and that it does not use users' personal content as training data[1]. Adobe has also implemented "Content Credentials," tamper-resistant metadata attached to digital content, in its products, and says its "Content Authenticity Initiative" aimed at standardizing provenance verification has gained the support of more than 5,000 companies and organizations[1].

Summary

The survey reveals a structure in which image-generation AI has already taken root in Japanese workplaces, while anxieties over copyright and data leakage act as a brake on wider adoption. Mechanisms that curb these risks and ensure transparency by clarifying provenance information look set to be the keys that determine how far adoption goes from here. The survey was conducted online, targeting 1,000 men and women in their 20s to 60s from October 29 to 31, 2025[1].

Source: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000536.000041087.html