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LABELS & PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK—AI in Packaging Today

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is a game-changer. It offers opportunities to enhance creativity, efficiency, and precision in the execution of packaging projects, reshaping the landscape. Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee show you where to start.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

(This article is excerpted from the WhatTheyThink Q2 Quarterly Journal.)

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is a game-changer. It offers opportunities to enhance creativity, efficiency, and precision in the execution of packaging projects, reshaping the landscape. AI is so pervasive that it can be hard not to become overwhelmed. It seems that every product boasts AI capabilities. And then there are the tools you can download and play with. Where should you start? Here are some ideas.

AI tools have turned graphic design on its head by automating repetitive tasks, allowing designers to focus on creativity and innovation. AI-driven software can automatically adjust color schemes, optimize layouts, and even suggest design elements based on brand guidelines. This not only speeds up the design process but also ensures consistency across different packaging formats. It isn’t perfect, though, so you must check your results.


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About Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee

Pat is a well-known evangelist for inkjet productivity. At McGrew Group, she uses her decades technical and marketing experience to lead the industry toward optimized business processes and production workflows. She has helped companies to define their five-year plans, audited workflow processes, and developed sales team interventions and education programs. Pat is the Co-Author of 8 industry books, editor of A Guide to the Electronic Document Body of Knowledge, and a regular contributor to Inkjet Insight and WhatTheyThink.com. Ryan McAbee is Chief Analyst at Pixel Dot Consulting LLC.

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