Can AI-Built Free Apps Replace Adobe and Microsoft?

According to Olhar Digital, software developer Brandon Thomas has launched ArtCraft, a collection of free, open-source applications built with artificial intelligence designed to replace industry standards like Adobe and Microsoft Office.

What is the ArtCraft suite?

The project includes tools divided into creative and productivity segments, written in the Rust programming language. For creative tasks, applications like PhotoCraft, FilmCraft, and VectorCraft mimic Adobe's Photoshop, Premiere, and Illustrator. For office work, WordCraft, GridCraft, and DeckCraft aim to replace Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

By relying heavily on AI generation, Thomas rapidly built a massive portfolio that challenges the traditional software subscription model. Supporters view it as a direct protest against expensive monthly fees charged by legacy tech giants.

How works in practice

Users can access the repositories on open-source platforms to download and run the applications locally without paying any license fees. However, because the entire suite was accelerated by AI code generation, integration relies entirely on community contributions for updates and bug fixes.

Is it safe to use for your daily routine?

Security and stability remain the biggest red flags. Cybersecurity experts and Reddit communities have questioned the safety of deploying software written entirely by AI without enterprise-grade auditing. Relying on a single developer to maintain critical infrastructure like spreadsheets and video editors introduces massive operational risks for professional workflows.

Verdict: who should (and shouldn't) use it?

Skip it for mission-critical work or sensitive company data due to unresolved cybersecurity risks. However, if you are a hobbyist looking to break free from costly software subscriptions and want to test cutting-edge open-source tools, it offers an interesting glimpse into the future of solo-developer software creation.