MidJourney

Midjourney is an independent AI research lab and a text-to-image generation tool that operates primarily through a Discord-based interface. Users submit natural language prompts to a dedicated bot, which returns a set of generated images that can be refined through upscaling or by creating variations. The service is used by artists, designers, and creators to explore visual concepts, composites, and stylistic experiments.

Founded in 2021 by David Holz, one of the co-founders of Leap Motion, Midjourney began with a closed beta and gradually opened to a broader audience via the Discord server. Through successive model iterations, the platform has aimed to improve image quality, detail, and stylistic versatility, with releases that emphasize painterly, surreal, and cinematic aesthetics.

Technology and workflow: Midjourney uses a diffusion-based generative model that interprets textual prompts to produce images. Prompts can be augmented with parameters to influence composition, aspect ratio, stylization, and quality. By default, users receive a four-image grid at a standard resolution, typically around 1024 by 1024 pixels, with options to upscale images or generate further variations. Advanced users may employ prompts, seed values, and commands to tailor outputs and repeatable styles.

Usage and pricing: The service operates on a subscription model offering different levels of access, credits, and processing speeds. Higher tiers generally provide more renders, faster turnaround times, and additional features. Processing occurs on remote hardware optimized for accelerated image generation.

Reception and considerations: Midjourney has gained broad adoption in creative communities, contributing to ongoing discussions about AI-generated art, authorship, and licensing. Safety filters and content policies are applied to restrict explicit or harmful material. Users are advised to review terms of service and licensing provisions regarding ownership and commercial use of generated imagery.