Have you ever wanted to try Midjourney’s AI image creator but didn’t want to create a Discord account? Well, now you don’t have to, because Midjourney now lets you create up to 25 images for free, as announced by CEO David Holz on, of course, Discord.
Until now, anyone who wanted to use Midjourney’s AI model to create images, even without a subscription, had to go to the Discord server and submit a text prompt using a specific format unique to Midjoruney. While this approach undoubtedly attracted a dedicated following, it also presented barriers for those unfamiliar with Discord or its complex prompt system.
You can now head over to Midjourney’s website (which only launched last year) and create your images there. The site was initially limited to users who had already generated 10,000 images via Discord, effectively limiting its reach to a select group of power users. Of course, you still need to register to use Midjourney, but if you don’t want to use Discord, you can sign up with a Google account instead.
Once logged in, the ‘Explore’ tab allows users to explore different images created by others, providing inspiration and ideas for their creations. In the ‘Create’ menu, users enter text prompts to generate images. Midjourney’s AI then produces four images based on the prompt, each with the option to refine further. Users can adjust the images by selecting ‘Strong’ or ‘Subtle’ to adjust the tone and focus, offering a level of customisation likely to appeal to those who don’t like to stick with their first choice. However, once you’ve used your 25 images, you’ll need a subscription (or potentially a new Google account).
We are excited to announce the launch of Black Forest Labs. Our mission is to develop and improve state-of-the-art generative deep learning models for media, pushing the boundaries of creativity, efficiency, and diversity. pic.twitter.com/ilcWvJgmsXAugust 1, 2024
Midjourney Races By
Midjourney’s increased accessibility is likely a reflection of how AI image generators in general have become easier to find and use. While Midjourney’s high-quality images have long made it stand out, rivals are either catching up or even surpassing it, depending on who you ask. As AI images become increasingly common in advertising, marketing, design, and other industries, Midjourney likely doesn’t want to be left behind just because some people don’t want to sign up for Discord.
It’s similar to how OpenAI’s DALL-E is now easily accessible on ChatGPT for free users, and even the best model has limited free usage. The same goes for X with the Grok AI chatbot and its use of the Flux model. Add to that standalone services like Ideogram, and it’s no wonder Midjourney wants to be seen as easier to find and use, lest its business slow down even before its titular center.