Generative AI is commonly seen as a menace to conventional pictures, however two enterprise funds with ties to digicam corporations have just lately invested in a startup that generates pictures from preliminary product images. Generative AI start-up AI Model Inc. has introduced its newest spherical of funding. Venture funds tied partly to Canon Japan and Panasonic Corporation are among the many AI start-ups’ most up-to-date investments by way of the Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund and the Panasonic Kurashi Visionary Fund.
AI Model Inc. is an organization that’s constructing know-how for attire corporations to generate a number of varieties of content material based mostly on a primary product picture.
Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund, a fund managed by Global Brain Corporation in partnership with Canon Marketing Japan (a subsidiary of Canon Inc.), has invested within the newest spherical of funding and has additionally beforehand supported the start-up in 2024.
Panasonic Global additionally introduced that the enterprise fund managed by Panasonic and SBI Investment Co, the Panasonic Kurashi Visionary Fund, has made an funding in AI Model Inc.
The funding quantities weren’t disclosed.
In one assertion, AI Model Representative Director and CEO Daiki Taniguchi describes the start-up’s method this fashion: “AI model is a platform that enables companies to generate and manage customized AI models and talent for their businesses, allowing them to rapidly and flexibly optimize creative content across a wide range of channels—including TV commercials, infomercials, banner advertisements, and in-store POP displays—without the need for photography, while maintaining brand identity and compliance.”
But, when Digital Camera World reached out to the respective corporations, asking why a digicam firm would spend money on generative AI, AI Model Inc. clarified how pictures is a part of the method. “AI models are not intended to completely replace photography,” a consultant mentioned. “Instead, they are used as a complementary workflow to improve the efficiency of shoot preparation, enable the generation of additional images, and support low-cost.”
“The process still requires capturing products worn by staff or mannequins using professional cameras, making high-quality photography an essential foundation,” the AI firm added. “In fact, photographers can focus more on product-focused shooting, where core skills such as lighting, composition, and accurate texture representation become even more important. By integrating photography with AI technology, both the quality and efficiency of creative work are enhanced.”
Both funds make common investments in numerous tech startups. In 2025, roughly half of worldwide enterprise funding went to AI start-ups, according to Crunchbase. Investments in AI software program corporations have been the commonest kind of company funding for 3 years working.
“By combining AI Model Inc.’s AI-driven content material creation know-how with the imaging applied sciences and experience cultivated by the Canon MJ Group, we’re assured that we are able to create new providers and contribute to the development of society. Based on this conviction, we determined to make the funding,” Canon Marketing Japan told Digital Camera World.
“As AI is adopted across all industries, we believe that the development and effective use of advanced AI will significantly contribute to providing customers with new value and expanding future growth opportunities for our business,” said Kunio Gohara, the General Manager for the Corporate Venture Capital Office at Panasonic. “By combining AI Model’s proprietary generative AI technology with Panasonic’s deep insights into people’s lifestyles cultivated over many years, we hope to create a future where we can communicate lifestyles tailored to each customer, based on how they envision a rich lifestyle.”
In a press release, AI Model Inc. says that AI will not take away jobs. “Our goal is not for AI to simply replace the work of creators, models, and talents, but to create new opportunities through co-creation and broaden the scope of creativity,” the press release reads. The startup also notes that it is working on creating a foundation “that allows companies to use AI models with peace of mind by formulating guidelines and ensuring transparency.”
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