Microsoft takes AI picture technology mainstream, strolling into ethics minefield

A preview of Microsoft Designer's AI text-to-image functionality, which can generate images from written prompts.

Enlarge / A preview of Microsoft Designer’s AI text-to-image characteristic, which might generate pictures from written prompts. (credit score: Microsoft)

Throughout a Floor press occasion immediately, Microsoft introduced integrations of AI-powered image-generation know-how into its Bing search engine, Edge browser, and a brand new Workplace app known as Microsoft Designer. The know-how will likely be powered by DALL-E 2 by OpenAI, which made waves in April for its capability to generate novel pictures primarily based on written prompts. The know-how has additionally been the topic of ire amongst some artists as a consequence of moral issues.

Microsoft’s choices purpose to assist creators overcome blank-page syndrome by suggesting artistic programs of motion. In an instance of Microsoft Designer supplied by Microsoft, somebody sorts an outline of what they need to see, akin to “Ombre cake adorned with flowers and fall foliage,” and so they can then scroll by AI-generated picture examples that they’ll select so as to add to their design. “Designer invitations you to start out with an concept and let the AI do the heavy lifting,” wrote Microsoft in a press launch.

An animated GIF preview of the Microsoft Designer app's "Start From Scratch" feature, provided by Microsoft.

An animated GIF preview of the Microsoft Designer app’s “Begin From Scratch” characteristic, supplied by Microsoft. (credit score: Microsoft)

Microsoft Designer originated as a part of PowerPoint, the place it at present suggests design concepts as a subset of that program. However Microsoft plans to interrupt out Designer into its personal Microsoft 365 app that will likely be accessible each as a free app and as a premium app accessible to Microsoft 365 Private and Household subscribers. For now, Microsoft is limiting Designer to a free public internet app, which it’s going to use to assemble suggestions from public testing.

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