Midjourney 5 must be stopped at all costs

Fireship
16 Mar 202303:24

TLDRMidjourney's release of its version 5 AI model has raised concerns about the future of creativity. The model generates highly realistic images, potentially rendering models and artists obsolete. While companies like Midjourney and OpenAI profit, the U.S. Copyright Office's ruling that AI-generated art cannot be copyrighted without proof of human authorship raises questions about the protection of original work. The video discusses how to use Midjourney's Discord-based platform to create images and the implications of generative AI on digital creators.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 MidJourney released its version 5 model in March 2023, capable of producing highly realistic AI images.
  • 😲 AI-generated images, like the 'shocked face' in the video thumbnail, are now almost indistinguishable from real photos.
  • 💻 As a result, professions like modeling are becoming obsolete since AI can create virtual models of any appearance.
  • 🏆 MidJourney stands out among other AI image generators like Stable Diffusion and OpenAI's DALL·E due to its vibrant and aesthetically pleasing results.
  • 📷 MidJourney relies on datasets from photographers and artists, raising ethical concerns about the involuntary use of their work.
  • 🖼️ The U.S. Copyright Office ruled that generative AI art cannot be copyrighted unless there’s proof of human authorship, impacting how AI-generated art is treated legally.
  • 🧑‍💻 Companies providing AI models, like MidJourney and OpenAI, are expected to profit significantly from the rise of AI creativity tools.
  • 💡 Users can generate AI art using MidJourney in Discord by typing commands and prompts, making digital art creation accessible to everyone.
  • 🔧 Parameters like aspect ratio, chaos, and quality flags allow users to customize AI-generated images with greater control and creativity.
  • 🌐 AI's ability to generate art based on images, including those of deceased relatives, introduces new possibilities but also stirs unease due to the potential for unsettling creations.

Q & A

  • What is Midjourney version 5, and when was it released?

    -Midjourney version 5 is the latest version of a generative AI model that produces highly realistic images. It was released in Alpha on March 15, 2023.

  • Why does the presenter describe AI-generated images as shockingly realistic?

    -The presenter finds AI-generated images shockingly realistic because they closely resemble real photos, to the point where even human faces can be generated with high detail, making it hard to distinguish them from real people unless you look very closely at small details, like the fingers.

  • What concerns does the presenter express about the impact of AI on jobs like modeling?

    -The presenter expresses concern that jobs like modeling are becoming obsolete due to AI's ability to generate realistic images of people in various shapes and sizes. This threatens traditional creative fields by replacing the need for human models.

  • What are some competing projects in the generative AI space mentioned in the transcript?

    -Some competing projects in the generative AI space include Stable Diffusion (an open-source project), DALL·E from OpenAI, and Midjourney. Each is vying to produce the best generative image models.

  • What is the presenter's opinion on Midjourney compared to other generative AI tools?

    -The presenter believes Midjourney stands out because its images are vibrant, realistic, and aesthetically pleasing. They consider Midjourney to be the most impressive of the current generative AI tools.

  • Why does the U.S. Copyright Office rule that generative AI art cannot be copyrighted?

    -The U.S. Copyright Office ruled that generative AI art cannot be copyrighted because it lacks proof of human authorship. For a work to be eligible for copyright, it needs human involvement in the creative process.

  • How does Midjourney's process work within Discord?

    -Midjourney is operated through Discord. Users can enter a Discord server, access a 'newbie' channel or direct messages, and use the '/imagine' command to describe an image they want generated. Midjourney then produces four image variations, allowing users to further refine or upscale them.

  • What parameters can users modify in Midjourney to customize image outputs?

    -Users can modify several parameters in Midjourney, including aspect ratio (to change the shape of the image), chaos (to control randomness in the output), and quality. Additionally, users can provide a starter image via a URL to guide the AI generation process.

  • How might generative AI affect creativity, according to the presenter?

    -The presenter is concerned that generative AI could ruin creativity because it allows companies to remix existing art into countless variations, diminishing the value of original human talent. This could reduce the incentive for people to create original art.

  • What is the humorous remark the presenter makes about the future of human creativity?

    -The presenter humorously suggests that it’s possible humans were created by AI, and if we can’t tell the difference, then it might not matter whether art or people are AI-generated. This lighthearted comment touches on the philosophical questions about AI's role in creativity and life.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 AI's Impact on Art and Modeling

The paragraph discusses the release of Mid-Journey's version 5 model in Alpha, capable of producing highly realistic AI images. The speaker, a programmer and content creator, humorously considers a career change to modeling due to AI's takeover in his field. He notes the obsolescence of human models due to AI's ability to generate images in various forms. The speaker highlights the competition among companies for the best generative image model, mentioning Stable Diffusion and projects like Dolly from OpenAI. He expresses concern over the potential loss of human creativity due to AI's ability to remix art endlessly, questioning the incentive for true human talent. The U.S. copyright office's ruling that AI-generated art cannot be copyrighted without proof of human authorship is mentioned, along with the speaker's personal subscription to AI services like copilot, chat GPT, and mid-journey, which he sees as tools that democratize creativity but also threaten it.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Midjourney

Midjourney refers to a company that has developed a generative AI model capable of creating realistic images. In the context of the video, it's highlighted as a significant player in the AI image generation space, having released a version 5 model that produces startlingly realistic images. The video discusses the implications of such technology on jobs and creativity.

💡Generative AI

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as images, music, or text, based on existing data. The video script uses this term to describe AI models like Midjourney's, which can generate images that are so realistic they can potentially replace human models and artists.

💡Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion is mentioned as the leading open-source project in the generative AI space. It competes with other projects, including Midjourney, to create high-quality AI-generated images. The script implies that while there are many projects, some stand out for their capabilities.

💡Dolly (from OpenAI)

Dolly is a closed-source project from OpenAI that is part of the competitive landscape in AI image generation. The script suggests that while there are many companies trying to monetize this technology, some are more successful or impressive than others.

💡Copyright

The concept of copyright is discussed in relation to AI-generated art. The U.S. copyright office's ruling that AI art cannot be copyrighted without proof of human authorship is mentioned. This is significant as it impacts the legal protection and potential monetization of AI-generated content.

💡Human Authorship

Human authorship is a requirement for copyrighting AI-generated art, as mentioned in the script. It implies that if a human modifies AI-generated art, it could become eligible for copyright. This term is central to the debate on ownership and originality in the context of AI creations.

💡For-profit

The term 'for-profit' is used to describe the business model transition of OpenAI, initially a non-profit entity, which turned to a for-profit model due to the commercial potential of AI technology. This reflects the financial incentives driving the development and deployment of AI models.

💡Co-pilot

Co-pilot is mentioned as a service for which the speaker is willing to pay a monthly fee. It's part of a suite of AI tools that the speaker uses, indicating a willingness to support and pay for valuable AI services that enhance creativity.

💡Chat GPT

Chat GPT is another AI service that the speaker mentions paying for monthly. It's an example of AI being integrated into everyday digital tasks, showing the speaker's reliance on and endorsement of AI technology for communication and information retrieval.

💡Prompt Engineering

Prompt engineering is the process of crafting detailed instructions for AI models to generate specific outputs. In the video, it's mentioned as a skill that can be added to a resume, indicating its importance and the value placed on the ability to effectively communicate with AI.

💡Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio is a parameter used in AI image generation to control the shape of the output image. The script explains that it's one of the many parameters that can be adjusted to refine the AI's output, demonstrating the level of control users have over AI-generated content.

💡Chaos

In the context of the video, 'chaos' refers to a parameter that controls the randomness or variability in AI-generated images. A higher chaos level results in more unpredictable outputs, which can be used creatively or to explore different image variations.

Highlights

Midjourney released its version 5 model in Alpha in March 2023.

The AI images produced by Midjourney are shockingly realistic.

A programmer and content creator discusses the impact of AI on jobs.

Models are becoming obsolete due to AI-generated images.

Many companies are competing to create the best generative image model.

Midjourney's images are vibrant, realistic, and aesthetically pleasing.

The U.S copyright office ruled that generative AI art cannot be copyrighted.

Modifications to AI art by humans might make it eligible for copyright.

Companies providing AI models like Midjourney and OpenAI are likely to profit the most.

OpenAI transitioned from non-profit to for-profit due to potential earnings.

Subscriptions to AI services can provide access to human creativity.

AI-generated art could ruin creativity by stealing and remixing human work.

The video demonstrates how to use Midjourney on Discord.

Midjourney's version 5 is in Alpha and can be accessed with the 'V' flag.

The 'Q' flag can be used to increase the quality of images.

Parameters like aspect ratio and chaos can change the output image.

A starter image can be provided to influence the AI's output.

Generative AI might be terrifying for digital creators.

There is a possibility that some creations are made with AI.