Google released its much-anticipated AI image generator for Google Bard. The new release brings Google in line with AI companies Midjourney and OpenAI, both of which have powerful AI image generators on the market.
Google has finally released its AI image generator for Google Bard, a move that brings the company in line with its competitors. This new release puts Google in the same league as AI companies Midjourney and OpenAI, both of which have already established themselves in the market with their powerful AI image generators.
If you’re curious about how this new release stacks up, you’re in luck. Since the launch, I’ve been testing Google Bard’s new image generation capabilities extensively. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what you need to know about Google Bard’s AI image generator and how it compares to other AI image generators on the market.
Imagen Gets Its Public Debut
After almost two years of waiting, Google’s Imagen system is finally available to the public. The AI image generator was first announced in 2022 and generated a lot of interest and excitement. However, Google did not release the technology for commercial use until now, while its competitors have already released commercially available image generators.
Despite the long wait, Imagen’s entry into the AI image generation space is still exciting. The new technology platform brings a new competitor into the market and offers users another option for generating images. It remains to be seen how Imagen will fare against its competitors, but the anticipation surrounding its release shows that there is still a lot of interest in AI image generation technology.
Bard’s Image Generator is Free
If you’re looking for a simple and free AI image generator, Google Bard is a great option. Unlike Midjourney, which requires a monthly fee of $10-$120 and the use of a clunky Discord desktop application, Bard is easy to access. To generate an image, simply go to the Bard website and ask the chatbot to create the image you want. While the images generated by Bard may not be quite as high-quality as those produced by Midjourney, the free and user-friendly interface makes it a great option for anyone looking to experiment with AI or create fun images with their kids.
Bard’s Images Have an Invisible Watermark
Invisible watermark technology has been around for decades and is used to embed an imperceptible tracking code into an image. The special software subtly alters the image’s pixels in a way that humans can’t see, and the alterations follow a pattern that another piece of software can later read. This technology is helpful in protecting image copyrights with traditional photographs, but until now, it hasn’t been applied to tracking AI-generated images.
Google Bard is the first major piece of AI software to embed an invisible watermark into every image created on the platform, using its SynthID system. This technology ensures that any Bard image can be traced back, and its AI-generated status revealed. The digital watermark like SynthID generally survives editing, cropping, and other alterations of the original image.
The SynthID watermark is invisible to the naked eye, and it doesn’t rely on the image’s metadata. Instead, it is embedded into the actual pixels of the image itself, allowing it to travel with the image no matter where it gets used. This feature is crucial as it builds trust in the system’s images and prevents the misuse of images.
If someone tries to use a Bard image as a deepfake, for example, Google’s algorithms can scan the image and instantly reveal that it was made by Bard. This powerful feature can help identify AI-generated images alongside traditional ones and prevent the misuse of images.
You can expect to see this verification feature built into tools like Google Images, so you can rapidly identify AI-generated images alongside traditional ones. The SynthID system is a step forward in protecting image copyrights and ensuring the authenticity of AI-generated images.
Safety is a Big Priority
When it comes to generating images, Google Bard puts safety first. Unlike its competitors, such as OpenAI’s DALL·E and Midjourney, Google Bard’s image generator prioritizes safety to a much greater extent.
While DALL·E refuses to create offensive images, it has no problem generating images of well-known political figures. Similarly, Midjourney happily creates cartoons of famous people with much less sensitive filtering queries.
In contrast, Google Bard often refuses to create images that could even have a tiny smidgen of the possibility of being misused. For example, when prompted to create an image of a lawyer researching a case, Bard refused. Presumably, the image could have been used in some nefarious way, such as adding unearned authority to a fake legal website.
As a user, Bard’s extensive guardrails can be annoying. However, they show that Google is playing it very safe when it comes to image generation. This approach ensures that generated images are less likely to be misused, and that users can have confidence in the safety of the images they create with Google Bard’s image generator.
Bard’s Images Aren’t on Par With Midjourney. Yet.
While Bard is a promising AI image generator, it still has some way to go before it can match the quality of competing tools like Midjourney and DALL-E. In testing, many of the images created by Bard still have a cartoonish, oversaturated look that was typical of Midjourney versions 4 and 5. For example, Bard’s rendition of a “portrait of a man” lacks the lifelike qualities of Midjourney’s version. The lighting is wrong, the wrinkles are too pronounced, and the face has a bulbous, caricature-like look that’s unrealistic.
Similarly, Bard’s “aspirational photograph of a man walking a Bichon Frise” lacks the realism and attention to detail of Midjourney’s version. While Bard’s images aren’t terrible, they’re not quite on the same level as Midjourney or even many images from DALL-E3.
That being said, Bard does excel in certain areas. In testing, it performed better than Midjourney at creating images with realistic text. It also held its own with the classic “avocado armchair” prompt, a common test for AI image generators that dates back to OpenAI’s original research paper on image generation.
It’s clear that Bard has a lot of potential, and with continued development and refinement, it could become a true competitor to Midjourney and other AI image generators. However, for now, it still has some way to go before it can match the quality of its competitors.
A Promising Future
Google Bard’s new image generator has been met with mixed reviews since its release. However, as more users have interacted with the system, it has become clear that Bard’s image generation capabilities are impressive, particularly for basic images that are commonly used.
While the system’s images can sometimes be cartoonish, and it struggles with generating controversial content, Bard’s image generator is a powerful tool that is available for free. It is accessible to anyone and can be used immediately.
As Google continues to gather data and improve the system, it is expected that Bard’s image generator will become even more impressive. The company has already made significant improvements since its initial release, and there is no doubt that it will continue to do so.
One of the advantages of Bard’s image generator is its ability to generate images for practical purposes such as illustrating blog posts and news articles. For instance, Bard’s generated image of police lights is a common stock image used by newspapers to illustrate breaking crime stories. The image is passable for this kind of purpose, and Bard does an admirable job of getting the basics right.
While it is not quite as artistic as other image generators, such as Midjourney, Bard’s image generator is still a powerful tool that is worth exploring. It is not as good as ChatGPT’s DALL-E3 at understanding prompts, but it can still generate useful images for a wide range of purposes.
As Google continues to gather data and improve Bard’s image generator, it is expected that the system will become even more powerful. It will be interesting to see what improvements are made in the future and how the system will evolve over time.
Overall, Bard’s image generator is a promising tool that is worth exploring. It may not be perfect, but it does a good job of getting the basics right and is accessible to anyone. As Google continues to make improvements, the system will undoubtedly become even more powerful and useful for a wide range of purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Create Images with Google Bard’s AI Generator?
To create images with Google Bard’s AI generator, you need to follow these steps:
- Open Google Bard’s website or app.
- Click on the “Image” icon in the chat window.
- Type in a description of the image you want to create.
- Press enter, and Google Bard will generate an image based on your description.
Can You Access Google Bard’s AI for Personal Use?
Yes, Google Bard’s AI can be accessed for personal use. You can access it through the website or app. However, you need to have a Google account to use it.
Which AI Image Generator is Known for Producing the Most Realistic Images?
There are many AI image generators available in the market, but Google Bard’s AI image generator is known for producing the most realistic images. It uses a model called Imagen 2, which is the imaging equivalent of the Gemini AI large language model (LLM) that powers the generative platform’s chatbot.
What Distinguishes Google Bard’s Image Generator from Other AI Tools on the Market?
Google Bard’s image generator is distinguished from other AI tools on the market by its ability to generate high-quality, realistic images based on text descriptions. It uses advanced AI algorithms and machine learning to create images that are visually appealing and contextually relevant.
Are There Any Tutorials Available for Beginners to Learn How to Use Google Bard’s AI Image Generator?
Yes, there are many tutorials available for beginners to learn how to use Google Bard’s AI image generator. These tutorials are available on Google’s website, YouTube, and other online platforms. You can also find many articles and blog posts that provide step-by-step instructions on how to use the tool.
What are the Latest Features Introduced in Google Bard’s AI Image Generation Tool?
Google Bard’s AI image generation tool is constantly evolving, and new features are being added all the time. Some of the latest features include improved image quality, faster image generation times, and more advanced AI algorithms. Additionally, Google is working on integrating the tool with other products and services to make it even more useful for users.
