Art Made by Machines: What is an AI Generated Image?

An AI-generated image is an image that is created using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms. These algorithms can produce images that are not the work of a human artist, and can be either realistic or abstract. AI-generated images can be used for artistic or scientific purposes, and can convey a specific theme or message.

They are often used by small businesses that do not have large budgets for professional photoshoots, or by marketers who need eye-catching visuals for their campaigns. AI image generators use advanced machine learning algorithms, such as artificial neural networks, to generate new images. They offer numerous benefits to content creators, marketers, and other creatives, including higher productivity and the ability to create unique images.

How do Artificial Intelligence Image Generators Create Images?

An AI image generator is essentially a piece of software that uses machine learning to create new images based on a set of input images or a specific theme. Essentially, the AI algorithms are fed a ton of images to learn from, and then they use that knowledge to generate new images. There are different types of AI image generators out there, each working in its own unique way.

Style transfer AI picture generators: These algorithms are trained to apply the style of one image to the content of another image. As an example, you can input a photograph of a landscape and a painting of a famous artist and the algorithm generates AI generated art that combines the content of the photograph with the style of the painting.
Text-to-image AI picture generators: These algorithms are trained to generate an image based on a written description or set of keywords. For example, you can input the text “a red apple on a white background,” and the AI would generate an image of an apple that matches the description.
Generative adversarial networks (GANs): These type of AI algorithms involve two neural networks working together to generate new images. One neural network, called the generator, is responsible for creating new images, while the other neural network, called the discriminator, is responsible for evaluating the multiple images generated by the generator. There could be multiple runs of the process described above until the system generates a final and accurate image. In real time, this relates to only a matter of seconds.

In general, AI art generation software uses machine learning algorithms to analyze the patterns and features in a bunch of complex images. Then, it uses that knowledge to create new digital art that’s similar to the stuff in the dataset. Cool, right?

Types Of Tech Applied in AI Picture Generators

AI picture generators use all sorts of fancy technologies to analyze and generate awesome images.

Machine learning algorithm is a type of AI that allows software systems to learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. There are several different types of machine learning algorithms that include: supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. These algorithms are often used to analyse and classify data and can be trained on large datasets to learn patterns and features in the same data.
Neural networks are a distinct type of machine learning algorithm inspired by the structure and function of the human brain. They consist of interconnected layers of artificial “neurons” that process and transmit information. Neural networks can be trained to recognize patterns and features in data and are often used in image recognition and generation of tasks.
Natural Language Processing: AI picture generators may also use other technologies such as Natural Language Processing (NLP) to analyse and interpret written descriptions or keywords and computer vision algorithms to analyse and understand the content of images.

How New Is The Tech For AI Generated Images?

AI for image generation has been around since the 1960s with the development of computer graphics and the first computer-generated images. But in recent years, the use of AI algorithms and neural networks for image generation has become more widespread.

As these technologies continue to advance and improve, AI picture generators are expected to be able to create even better, more realistic images. Plus, with more and more large datasets and computing power available, AI picture generators can be trained on a wider range of images, allowing them to generate all sorts of different styles and subjects.

What Imagery Is Possible With An AI Image Generator?

There are many types of art and images that can be created using AI picture generators. The diversity of the generated images makes them suitable for a wide-ranging audience. Some examples include:

Photorealistic images: AI picture generators can be used to generate highly realistic images that closely resemble photographs. These images may be generated from scratch or by applying the style of an image to the content of another image using a style transfer algorithm.
Abstract and surreal images: AI picture generators can also be used to generate more abstract or surreal images that are based on a specific theme or set of input images. These images may have more exaggerated or stylized features and may incorporate elements that do not exist in the real world.
Digital paintings and illustrations: AI picture generators can be used to generate digital paintings and illustrations in a variety of styles, including realistic, abstract, and stylized. These images may be generated from scratch or by applying the style of an image to the content of another image using a style transfer algorithm.
3D models and animations: Some AI picture generators are designed to generate 3D models and animations which can be used in a variety of applications including video games, movies, and virtual reality experiences.

Overall, the types of art and images that can be created using AI picture generators are limited only by the capabilities of the algorithms and the creativity of the users.

Are AI-generated images safe to use Commercially?

AI-generated images are copyright-free since they’re not generated by humans and are often produced from public domain sources. Majority of these images are relatively safe for commercial use; e.g., for branding or social media posts or even to visually portray an idea, for example a furniture retailer wants to portray and see how fruit furniture would look like before starting the process.

That being said, there have been instances where AI-generated imagery closely resembles branded/copyrighted content, risking possible repercussions. It’s crucial to know that the legal landscape surrounding AI-generated images is still evolving. If you intend to use AI-generated images in large-scale production, we advise exercising discretion. Ensuring compliance with copyright laws mitigates potential legal risks.

Can AI-generated images be customized for specific needs?

AI-generated images can be the perfect solution for crafting visuals that are both original and personalized. With artificial intelligence, artwork can be tailored to resonate with a specific target audience or theme. The AI creates unique-looking content as per your needs, taking cues from the keywords you provide to align with your brand identity.

However, the success of this customization depends heavily on the complexity of the prompt you give to the AI image generator. A practical example is our branding strategy; our brand identifies as ‘geeks in marketing,’ so we’ve harnessed generative AI to create geeky image posts reflecting this theme and then we edited them to our likings.

Bonus Tip: Consider using popular generative AI tools like Chat GPT or Bard to help create detailed image descriptions that resonate with your brand.

How does AI-generated artwork compare to human-created art?

While AI-created art employs artificial intelligence algorithms, human artists craft traditional art. AI art can be produced quickly, in large quantities, and with remarkable detail and complexity. Although, it tends to lack the emotional and personal touch that human-made art inherently possesses. The artistic process, when a human is involved, showcases the artist’s unique perspective and expression, while the production of the art piece requires a more extended period.

The interplay between AI art and human creativity is an interesting dynamic to observe. The AI art impact on creativity can been seen in how artists are using AI tools to experiment with new styles and forms of expression, yet at the same time, the soaring trend of AI-generated art raises the question of its potential hindrance to human creativity, as it may encourage reliance on technology.

Despite its popularity, AI-generated art, particularly photo realistic images, still struggles in some areas. For instance, AI-generated images often inaccurately represent human arms. Even the continuous AI art impact on creativity has its limitations as users may need to prompt their AI picture generator repeatedly before obtaining an accurate depiction.

Have a guess a the below photo, what is created with AI or by a human?

How Can Artists, Designers And Other Professionals Exploit AI Picture Generators?

Artists, designers, and other professionals can use AI picture generators in a variety of ways to enhance their creative processes and streamline their workflows. Some potential applications include:

Generating initial concepts and ideas: AI picture generators can be used to quickly generate a variety of different concepts and ideas for a project, providing a critical point of inspiration for further development and refinement.
Enhancing and refinement of existing designs: AI picture generators can be used to quickly generate variations and refinements of an existing design, allowing artists and designers to explore different options and choose the best output.
Automation of repetitive tasks: AI picture generators can be used to automate repetitive tasks such as resizing or recolouring images, freeing up time for more creative work.
Generating content for social media and marketing campaigns: AI picture generators can be used to quickly generate a variety of different images and graphics for use in social media and marketing campaigns, saving time and resources.
Generating custom product images: Companies can use AI picture generators to quickly generate custom product images featuring a specific product in various environments or settings.
Creating virtual reality and augmented reality experiences: AI picture generators can be used to create 3D models and animations for use in virtual reality and augmented reality experiences.
Generating backgrounds and textures for use in design and media: AI picture generators can be used to quickly generate a variety of different backgrounds and textures for use in design projects or media such as video games and movies.
Generating book covers and album art: Publishers and record labels can use AI picture generators to quickly generate a variety of different book covers and album art options.
Generating visualizations and infographics: AI picture generators can be used to quickly generate visualizations and infographics for use in presentations, reports, and other business documents.

What are the potential ethical implications of AI-generated images?

AI-generated images raise several ethical issues that we must tackle. Here are some of the potential implications:

Copyright Infringement: AI-generated images risk violating copyright laws as they can be produced by scraping existing images or artwork.
Devaluing Human Effort: There’s an ongoing debate about whether AI-generated images qualify as “real art” and its potential effect on the value place on human artists’ creativity and effort.
Stereotypical or Harmful Portrayals: AI-generated images can perpetuate harmful stereotypes or even create offensive and harmful content.

Pros and Cons of AI Art

Pros

Increased creativity and innovation
AI art generation makes art creation easier and more accessible to everyone
Efficiency: AI algorithms can create art much faster than humans
Innovation: AI algorithms can give artists access to new creative possibilities

Lack of human touch
Ethical concerns
Limited creative control: While AI algorithms can generate art, the artist has limited control over the final product
Quality concerns and possible plagiarism

Cons

How to get started with AI-generated Images?

The truth of the matter is that getting started is a breeze. Your only task is to identify a generative AI for creating art that fits your needs. As previously noted, you may commence either from sheer imagination, providing a prompt, or else start off with an existing image. Hereby, we illuminate three of the best AI picture generators we’ve encountered so far.

Dall-E (Free AI-generated Images)

DALL-E is an artificial intelligence system crafted by OpenAI, capable of crafting authentic images from textual prompts. This system is apt at creating original, lifelike images and art from text descriptions, aptly known as “prompts”. It possesses the remarkable ability to amalgamate concepts, attributes, and styles. Not only can DALL-E fabricate imagery in a myriad of styles, encompassing photorealistic imagery, paintings, and emojis, but it can also manipulate and reposition objects within its images. In terms of design, it’s competent at correctly placing elements within new compositions sans explicit instructions.

DALL-E can be accessed and utilized without charge either via their official website or through Bing image create, which is powered by DALL-E.

Dall-E dashboard gives you 2 options:

Giving a detailed description of what AI-generated image you want to create.
Upload and image and manipulate it to your liking.

One prompt gives a number of options.

Midjourney AI Art Generator (Paid AI-generated Images)

Unless you’re an absolute novice in the realm of AI-generated images, you’ve undoubtedly encountered Midjourney. Serving as an AI art generator, Midjourney transmutes text-based prompts into visual representations. It is an autonomous research laboratory focusing on pioneering new realms of thought and magnifying the imaginative capabilities of the human race. Midjourney extends its services to the public, and anyone in possession of a Discord account can join the Midjourney beta server and embark on their journey.

Until recently, Midjourney was accessible for free. However, currently, the platform is only accessible via its paid version.

To generate an image, you are required to run a Discord command by typing “/imagine” followed by a textual description of the image you desire Midjourney to generate. There is a plethora of AI art prompts worth exploring, and once you are acquainted with how to operate Midjourney, you can cultivate unique works of art.

Runway ML – Free Trial with Credits

Runway ML is far from being merely a tool for creating AI-generated images; it provides a myriad of functionalities enabling it to be used for videos, 3D, and audio as well. Given its unique features, it is too impressive not to spotlight.

Runway ML is an applied AI research firm set to pioneer the forthcoming era of art, entertainment, and human creativity. It provides an array of models for diverse purposes, predominantly falling under three broad categories: models that recognize objects and individuals, models that modify content, and models that produce new media using training data. Creatives can feed their data directly into Runway ML, wherein its machine learning algorithm discerns patterns within the dataset to construct a model capable of performing specific tasks.

Stocked with a extensive assortment of AI magic tools, Runway ML enables you to create, modify, or enhance any of your images.

AI Generators – Not Just For Images

In the marketing sphere, AI-generated images in marketing are making a significant impact. Generative AI marketing platforms are enabling users to create bespoke content, from presentations to memes, with considerable ease and efficiency. These platforms typically deploy AI technologies such as natural language processing to comprehend user input and generate content that aligns with user intentions, which often include AI-generated images in marketing strategies.

For instance, a presentation AI platform lets you feed in your key messages and specifications for layout. The AI then takes over, crafting a professional presentation complete with slide designs, text, and graphics. Meanwhile, meme AI platforms enable you to input text or images, which it then uses to generate a variety of memes in diverse styles and layouts.

The use of AI-generated images in marketing offers the potential for unique, eye-catching content, designed to resonate with your target audience. As AI technology continues to evolve and refine, the application of AI generators in marketing and creating customized AI-generated images in marketing campaigns is expanding across various industries.

Examples And Use-cases of Other AI Picture Generators

Supermeme – Create Original Memes

SuperMeme is a tool that lets you create original memes using AI. It’s a super easy way to stand out from the competition and grab people’s attention with unique, attention-grabbing memes. Memes are a great way to share ideas and messages online, and SuperMeme makes it easy for anyone to create killer memes.

Just input your thoughts or ideas and the AI will give you a bunch of different meme options to choose from. Then you can customize and share your selected meme on social media or wherever else online to get your message out there. This software is really popular with businesses, especially ones that use social media for marketing and are targeting younger audiences.

Try Supermeme

The first 20 AI memes created are for free…

Beautiful AI – Build Professional Looking Presentations

Beautiful AI is a presentation software that uses AI to apply the principles of good design as you add content to your slides. So as you input your key messages and desired layout, the AI helps create a professional presentation that meets your needs and looks great. This software is really helpful for small businesses, like startups, that want to make a presentation that delivers their message and leaves a good impression on their audience.

Try Beautiful AI

Concluding Remarks

Like we’ve talked about, AI technology has gotten to the point where it can have real, positive impacts on businesses of all sizes. And as we’ve seen, with AI technology including both AI video generators and AI picture generators you can create all sorts of amazing stuff – the only limit is your imagination. This technology also opens up tons of opportunities for individuals and businesses to scale up their marketing and create new, unique, and eye-catching content for their audience. It’s pretty exciting stuff!