Midjourney, a leading AI-based image generator, has unveiled V7, its first major model update in almost a year. The alpha release commenced around midnight EST on Thursday, marking a significant advancement in the platform’s capabilities.
The introduction of V7 follows closely on the heels of OpenAI’s recent image generator launch within ChatGPT, which gained attention for producing Ghibli-style images. While Midjourney’s V7 isn’t specifically optimized for Ghibli aesthetics, it is designed to generate visually appealing and coherent images across various styles.
To access V7, users are required to complete a personalization process involving the rating of approximately 200 images. This step establishes a “personalization” profile, tailoring the model to individual visual preferences. Once set up, V7 can be activated via Midjourney’s website or through its Discord server chatbot. In the web application, users can select the model from a drop-down menu labeled “version.”
David Holz, CEO of Midjourney, described V7 as featuring a “totally different architecture.” He highlighted its enhanced understanding of text prompts, improved image quality with rich textures, and significantly better coherence in rendering details such as bodies, hands, and objects.
V7 is available in two modes: Turbo, which offers faster processing at a higher cost, and Relax, which is more cost-effective. Additionally, the new Draft Mode renders images at ten times the speed and half the cost of the standard mode, though draft images are of lower quality and can be refined with further processing.
Certain features, including image upscaling and retexturing, are not yet available in V7 but are expected to be integrated within the next two months. Holz emphasized that V7’s new architecture may require users to adapt their prompting techniques and encouraged experimentation to fully explore its capabilities.
Founded in 2022 by David Holz, co-founder of Leap Motion, Midjourney has operated without external funding. As of late 2023, the company projected revenues of approximately $200 million, reflecting its substantial growth and the increasing demand for AI-generated imagery.
The release of V7 underscores Midjourney’s commitment to advancing AI-driven image generation, offering users enhanced tools to create high-quality, customized visuals.
