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Microsoft is now testing its own in-house AI image generation model.
You can test the new model at the LMArena leaderboard site.
The new model will soon be available in Copilot and Bing Image Creator.
Ever use Microsoft Copilot or Bing Image Creator to generate AI-based images? The models that Microsoft currently uses for this task are actually from OpenAI, specifically GPT-4o and DALL-E-3. But now Microsoft has cooked up its own image generator model as it shifts more of its AI development in house.
In a blog post published Monday, Microsoft introduced its new image generator model dubbed MAI-Image-1. In training this new model, the company boasted that it strived to avoid repetitive or generic output. To assist with this goal, Microsoft solicited feedback from creative professionals. The end result should be images that more closely mirror real-world examples.
"MAI-Image-1 excels at generating photorealistic imagery, like lighting (e.g., bounce light, reflections), landscapes, and much more," Microsoft said in its post. "This is particularly so when compared to many larger, slower models. Its combination of speed and quality means users can get their ideas on screen faster, iterate through them quickly, and then transfer their work to other tools to continue refining."
The new model isn't accessible through Copilot or Bing Image Creator, at least not yet. But it has made its first mark by scoring in the top ten at AI leaderboard LMArena. Here, people can test and rate different AI models to grade their effectiveness. The more votes a particular model gets, the higher it appears in the rankings. As of now, MAI-Image-1 is No. 9 on the board, not a bad start for a brand new model.
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