It is yet another day when AI-generated slop is getting better by the day. Recently, we spoke about Open AI’s native image software, which is able to create the most realistic-looking images through mere text prompts. If you thought that was scary, then wait until you see Midjourney’s latest AI image-generation model, the first from the company in a year. What can it do? Read more to find out.
First reported by Tech Crunch, Midjourney announced V7, a new model that rolled out on Thursday morning. This comes following ChatGPT’s recent viral Ghibli-style photos, which have stirred controversy online. And now, Midjourney is going to add ChatGPT’s realistic-looking image model, which the company, on X, announced is now in “alpha-test phase” and is its “smartest, most beautiful, most coherent model yet.”
Reports say you have to rate 200 images, which helps Midjourney to create a personalized profile. But if you have already, then the V7 model will have a personalized switch on by default. However, you can turn it off when needed. According to the company, the new model has a ‘Draft mode’ which comes at “half the cost and 10 times the speed, and it might be the best way to iterate on ideas ever.” There is also a voice mode, which will allow you to give the model verbal commands to change whatever you like in your photographs. In addition, Midjournye is also expected to launch “new features every week or two so for the next 60 days,” while the most significant feature in this model will be “character and object reference.”
On X itself, there are several AI-image creators who have not wasted a breath to use the tool. The images range from architecture to portraits of Black children in the desert. The quality, as we notice, is exactly like that of an actual photograph. One could easily be fooled into thinking what they are seeing is real. Here are a few examples:
As you can see, each of these AI-generated images could easily have been the copyrighted work of some hyperrealistic artist or photographer. In addition, Midjourney faces multiple lawsuits, and thousands of creators have accused the platform and others like it of stealing their work. Yet, despite it all, the Donald Trump administration has been pushing to make the USA the AI capital of the world, something that will further hurt creatives everywhere. In addition, the inclusion of AI images in museums and auction spaces is further giving an unethical and problematic practice a legal and large platform.
This is only the beginning, as the AI-generated image race is looking to replace photographers in several genres, such as commercial and stock photography. We aren’t sure what the future holds, but with projects such as the Content Authenticity Initiative, we may be able to find a fine line of balance. However, this can only work if photographers, creators, galleries, educators, and auctioneers come together to give photography the space to thrive. Otherwise, it could be a losing battle.
