Usually, Midjourney generates images from “prompts” that are used by the Midjourney users. Prompts are a type of natural language description. However, according to Midjourney founder David Holtz, Midjourney is trained on images scraped from the internet to its image dataset.
Midjourney’s Admittance of Copyright Infringement
David Holtz’s confession about image use
David Holtz, the founder of Midjourney, confessed that the AI image generator was trained on images scraped from the internet without permission. Here are the key takeaways from his confession:
- Holtz admitted to using “a big scrape of the internet” to build Midjourney’s image dataset.
- This resulted in outrage on social media regarding copyright infringement.
- Holtz claimed that the scraped images did not have metadata, which made it difficult to attribute ownership.
- Some people doubted this claim and questioned the legality of using copyrighted images without permission.
- In addition to the scraped images, Midjourney also uses open data sets to train its AI model.
- Creators cannot opt out of being included in the training model.
- Midjourney users can type in sentence prompts to generate images.
- The time needed for image generation varies but can range from seconds to several minutes.
- Users receive a one-time credit for full-quality upscaling.
- Midjourney was previously associated with ornate and fractal images but has since expanded its image capabilities.
- Understanding Midjourney’s image sources is crucial for creators who want to ensure they are not contributing to copyright infringement.
Overall, Holtz’s confession revealed some concerning practices regarding Midjourney’s image sources. While the AI model may be impressive, it’s important for creators to be informed about the potential consequences of using copyrighted images without permission.
Outrage on social media regarding copyright infringement
Midjourney has faced intense criticism on social media over the issue of copyright infringement. Some users have accused the AI image generator of using copyrighted material without proper permission or attribution. This outrage has led to heated debates about the ethics of using AI to create images, and whether creators should be held responsible for the actions of their algorithms.
Some have even called for legal action against Midjourney, arguing that it has violated copyright laws by using images without the consent of its creators. Despite these concerns, Midjourney has maintained that it is operating within the bounds of the law, and continues to generate new images at a rapid pace.
Doubts on Holtz’s claim about images not having metadata
Doubts on Holtz’s claim about images not having metadata:
- Some artists have claimed that every piece of art they process in Photoshop has embedded metadata that marks it as copyrighted and includes contact info.
- They argue that embedded copyright in image metadata has existed for years, adding more credibility to the claim that images do have metadata.
- However, it’s important to note that a big scrape of the internet big enough to produce more than a hundred million images would be bound to dredge up many with no contact info or metadata at all. So, not all images may have metadata.
- Despite this suspicion about Holz lying on that count, he likely wasn’t completely wrong either.
Midjourney’s Dataset and Training Model
Midjourney’s dataset is built from a big scrape of the internet, and the company relies on open data sets to train its AI model. Here are some facts about Midjourney’s image sources:
- Midjourney’s founder, David Holz admits to using a hundred million images without consent from artists and photographers.
- The company did not receive permission for the hundreds of millions of images used to train its AI image generators, according to Holz.
- Holz asserts that it’s impossible to know where images come from since there’s no metadata embedded in them.
- Midjourney allows users to type in sentence prompts, and the AI generates images based on the text input.
- The image generation process takes time, but Midjourney offers a one-time credit for full-quality upscaling.
- Midjourney has a previous association with ornate and fractal images, but its capabilities range widely.
- Midjourney’s dataset is built from a big scrape of the internet, and creators cannot opt out of being included in the training model.
Use of open data sets to train the AI model by Midjourney
Midney, an AI image generator, uses open data sets to train its model. Here are some things to know about the use of open data sets in Midjourney:
- Midjourney’s dataset was built from a big scrape of the internet, including images with Creative Commons licenses.
- Open data sets are used to train the AI model by providing it with a large amount of labeled data.
- Creators cannot opt out of being included in the training model, as open data sets are publicly available.
- The use of open data sets allows for a wide range of image capabilities, as the model is trained on a diverse range of images.
- However, there are concerns about the ethical implications of using open data sets, as they may contain private or copyrighted material. It is important to always check regulations before using AI-generated images.
Image Generation Process using Midjourney
Typing in sentence prompts
Here’s everything you need to know about typing in sentence prompts:
- A prompt is a short text phrase that the Midjourney Bot interprets to produce an image.
- Well-crafted prompts can help make unique and exciting images.
- A basic prompt can be as simple as a single-word phrase or emoji.
- More advanced prompts can include one or more Image URLs to influence the style and content of the finished result.
- Parameters change how an image generates. Parameters can change aspect ratios, models, upscale, and lots more. Parameters go at the end of the prompt.
- Midjourney 4 is slightly better than other models at interpreting traditional sentence structure.
- It is better to describe what you want instead of what you don’t want.
- The Midjourney Bot does not understand grammar, sentence structure, or words like humans.
- Word choice also matters. More specific synonyms work better in many circumstances.
- Being vague is a great way to get variety, but you may not get the specific details you want.
The time needed for image generation
Here are some key points to keep in mind when thinking about how long it takes for Midjourney to generate images:
- The Midjourney bot takes some time to process your request and generate results, so be patient.
- Generally, it takes a few minutes for Midjourney to generate images based on your prompt.
- If you’re a premium user, you may be able to generate images more quickly than a free user.
- Keep in mind that for the best results, you may need to adjust your prompts or guide the AI with the buttons provided.
- Overall, while the process of generating high-quality AI art may take some time, it’s worth it for the unique and interesting results you can achieve with Midjourney.
One-time credit for full-quality upscaling
Are you tired of low-quality thumbnail images? Then Midjourney has got you covered with its one-time credit for the full-quality upscaling feature! Here are some things you should know:
- The initial thumbnails generated by Midjourney are only 256px.
- Using one credit, you can upscale your favorite thumbnail to full quality.
- The upscaling process takes an additional minute or so to complete.
- You can watch as Midjourney fills in the details, creating a high-quality image.
- Just like DALL-E, you can create variations of any Midjourney image.
- Variations are less computationally intensive than generating an image from text.
- With the upscaler, you’ll get smoother and refined details, creating a stunning visual image.
In short, the one-time credit for full-quality upscaling is a great feature that allows creators to enhance their images’ resolution and quality. It’s an excellent opportunity to create beautiful visuals that will make your content stand out!
Conclusion
Understanding Midjourney’s image sources is essential for creators who want to use its services ethically and avoid potential legal issues. It’s crucial to use images with proper attribution and consent from the creators.
References:
https://80.lv/articles/midjourney-founder-talked-about-its-art-style-copyright-what-ai-is/
https://dallery.gallery/midjourney-guide-ai-art-explained/
