Midjourney 5 must be stopped at all costs

Fireship
16 Mar 202303:24

TLDRIn a report dated March 16, 2023, the presenter discusses the release of Midjourney's version 5 AI model, which generates highly realistic images. The presenter, a programmer and content creator displaced by AI, humorously considers a career in modeling, only to find that AI-generated models are now the norm. Midjourney stands out among competitors like Stable Diffusion and Dolly from OpenAI for its impressive image quality. The U.S. Copyright Office's recent ruling that generative AI art cannot be copyrighted without human authorship proof is highlighted as a positive development. The presenter expresses concern that AI's ability to remix and reproduce art may devalue human creativity. The report also provides a tutorial on using Midjourney through Discord, suggesting the use of flags to enhance image quality and realism. The presenter ends on a philosophical note, pondering the implications of AI on the nature of creation and identity.

Takeaways

  • 📅 Midjourney released its version 5 model in Alpha on March 16, 2023, which can produce shockingly realistic AI images.
  • 🎨 The AI-generated images are vibrant, realistic, and aesthetically pleasing, potentially making human models and artists obsolete.
  • 🚫 The U.S. Copyright Office ruled that generative AI art cannot be copyrighted unless human authorship can be proven.
  • 💼 Companies like Midjourney and OpenAI are profiting from providing generative AI models, with OpenAI transitioning from non-profit to for-profit.
  • 💰 The speaker is willing to pay for AI services like co-pilot, chat GPT, and mid-journey, which put human creativity at their fingertips.
  • 🚨 There is a concern that AI-generated art could ruin creativity by stealing and remixing human art into countless variations.
  • 🖼️ Midjourney operates through Discord, and users can create images by using the Imagine slash command and describing their vision.
  • 🔍 The process allows for customization with parameters like aspect ratio and chaos level to control the output image's characteristics.
  • 🔗 Users can provide a starter image through a hyperlink to any image URL, enabling the creation of new artwork based on existing images.
  • 😨 Generative AI can be terrifying for digital creators, but there's a humorous suggestion that if one cannot tell the difference between AI and human creation, it might not matter.
  • 📝 The speaker provides a step-by-step guide on how to use Midjourney's AI to create images, including using flags for higher quality and realism.

Q & A

  • What is the main concern expressed about Midjourney's version 5 model?

    -The main concern is that the AI-generated images are shockingly realistic, which could potentially make human models and artists obsolete.

  • What is the current status of copyright for generative AI art according to the U.S. Copyright Office?

    -Generative AI art cannot be copyrighted unless there is proof of human authorship. If a human modifies AI art, it could become eligible for copyright on a case-by-case basis.

  • How did OpenAI transition from a non-profit to a for-profit organization?

    -OpenAI transitioned to a for-profit organization when they realized the significant financial potential in the generative AI space.

  • What are the potential negative impacts of AI-generated art on human creativity?

    -AI-generated art could demotivate human creativity because it might lead to the theft and remixing of human art into countless variations, making it difficult to distinguish original works.

  • How does the speaker suggest one can prove their artwork was created using Midjourney?

    -The speaker suggests using the 'Imagine' slash command in Discord, providing a description of the image, and then selecting and further refining the generated variations to prove its creation.

  • What are some of the parameters that can be used to change the output of Midjourney's AI?

    -Parameters include the aspect ratio to change the shape of the image and chaos to control the randomness of the output. A starter image can also be provided as a hyperlink to any image URL.

  • What is the current method of accessing Midjourney?

    -Midjourney is currently accessed entirely through Discord, with no API available at the time of the transcript.

  • What does the speaker recommend adding to the prompt for highly realistic images of humans?

    -The speaker recommends using the 'V' flag for version 5 and the 'Q' flag set to 2 to increase the quality for highly realistic human images.

  • What is the implication of the speaker's statement that 'it's very possible that you were made with AI'?

    -The implication is that if a person's artwork or creative output is indistinguishable from AI-generated content, then the origin of the creation (human or AI) becomes less significant.

  • How does the speaker describe the impact of AI on the digital world and human creativity?

    -The speaker describes the impact as making users a 'demigod' in the digital world, with AI tools like Midjourney, co-pilot, and chat GPT putting almost all of human creativity at their fingertips, while also potentially ruining the incentive for true human talent.

  • What is the significance of the toad artwork mentioned in the transcript?

    -The toad artwork serves as an example of how convincing AI-generated images have become, to the point where they could be mistaken for a work by a renowned artist like Alex Grey.

  • What is the potential future development mentioned for Midjourney?

    -The potential future development mentioned is the implementation of an API, which would likely enhance the accessibility and functionality of Midjourney's AI image generation.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 The Rise of AI in Art and Content Creation

The video script introduces the viewer to the advancements in AI technology, particularly in the field of generative art. It discusses the release of Mid-Journey's version 5 model, which produces highly realistic AI images. The speaker, a programmer and content creator, explores the impact of AI on jobs, mentioning the obsolescence of traditional modeling due to AI's ability to generate human models. The script also touches on the legal aspects of AI art, referencing the U.S. Copyright Office's stance that generative AI art cannot be copyrighted without proof of human authorship. It highlights the commercial potential of AI models and the transition of OpenAI from a non-profit to a for-profit entity. The speaker expresses mixed feelings about the convenience and potential detrimental effects of AI on human creativity. The paragraph concludes with a demonstration of how to use Mid-Journey's AI to create art, including tips on using the platform and command flags for better results.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Midjourney

Midjourney refers to a company that has released a version 5 model in Alpha, which is an AI system capable of generating highly realistic images. In the video, it is portrayed as a significant development in AI technology that has the potential to disrupt traditional jobs and industries, such as modeling and photography.

💡Generative AI

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as images, music, or text, that is not simply a repetition of existing content. In the context of the video, generative AI is used to create realistic images, which raises concerns about the future of human creativity and the potential for misuse of AI-generated content.

💡Copyright

Copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution, usually for a limited time. The video discusses the recent ruling by the U.S. Copyright Office that generative AI art cannot be copyrighted unless human authorship can be proven, which is significant for the future of AI-generated content and its commercialization.

💡Discord

Discord is a platform originally designed for gamers to communicate via voice, video, and text. In the video, it is mentioned as the platform where Midjourney operates, allowing users to interact with the AI and generate images through a specific command.

💡API

An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of protocols and tools for building software applications. It is mentioned in the video as something that Midjourney currently lacks but is expected to develop in the future, which would allow for more widespread integration of its AI image generation capabilities.

💡Prompt Engineering

Prompt engineering refers to the process of carefully crafting input prompts for AI systems to generate desired outputs. In the video, it is suggested as a new skill that users can add to their resumes, as it involves describing an image idea to an AI system like Midjourney to create variations of that idea.

💡Upsampling

Upsampling is a process in digital image processing that increases the resolution of an image. In the context of the video, it is an option provided by Midjourney's AI system to enhance the quality of the generated images.

💡Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio of an image refers to the proportional relationship between its width and height. In the video, it is mentioned as one of the parameters that can be adjusted in Midjourney's AI system to change the shape of the output image.

💡Chaos

In the context of the video, 'chaos' refers to a parameter in Midjourney's AI system that controls the randomness or variability in the generated images. A higher chaos level results in more random elements in the output.

💡Starter Image

A starter image is an initial image used as a reference or base for further image generation or manipulation. The video explains that Midjourney allows users to provide a starter image, which can be a hyperlink to any image URL, to influence the AI's output.

💡Deepfake

Deepfake is a term used to describe AI-generated synthetic media where a person's likeness is superimposed onto someone else's body with realistic precision. The video uses the term to describe the potential of AI to create images that are so realistic that they could be mistaken for the work of a human artist.

Highlights

Midjourney has released its version 5 model in Alpha, producing shockingly realistic AI images.

AI-generated models are now so realistic that they are making traditional models obsolete.

The U.S. Copyright Office ruled that generative AI art cannot be copyrighted without proof of human authorship.

Midjourney's images are vibrant, realistic, and aesthetically pleasing, setting a high standard in the industry.

The data set for creating these AI images comes from photographers and artists, potentially making their future roles obsolete.

Open AI, a for-profit company, is one of the leaders in providing generative models like Midjourney.

The ease of using AI to create art may reduce incentives for true human talent and creativity.

Midjourney operates through Discord, utilizing a slash command to generate images from text prompts.

Version 5 of Midjourney is currently in Alpha and can produce highly realistic images when using specific flags in the prompt.

Parameters such as aspect ratio and chaos can be adjusted to control the output image's composition.

A starter image can be provided via a hyperlink to any image URL, allowing for the creation of new artwork from existing photos.

The potential for generative AI to replace human creators is a concern, but there's a glimmer of hope for those who may have been created with AI.

The report suggests that AI-generated art could lead to a devaluation of human creativity and talent in the digital world.

Midjourney's technology allows for the creation of four different variations of an imagined image, with options to further refine or upscale them.

The report highlights the ethical considerations of AI-generated art and its impact on the future of human artists and photographers.

The ease with which AI can now generate high-quality images raises questions about the future of artistic integrity and originality.

The report provides a step-by-step guide on how to use Midjourney's Discord-based platform to generate AI art.

The potential for AI to disrupt traditional creative industries is significant, with implications for employment and the value of human-generated content.