Google launches the search artificial intelligence text to image generator for specific users

This new feature is designed to compete with current market leaders such as OpenAI's DALL-E and Midjourney.

Google announced in an October 12 statement that it allows some users to create AI-generated images through its main search bar.

The new feature allows users to submit prompts and receive up to four image results, which users can later refine with additional information.

The company says the feature is available to users who use an AI-driven search generation experience (SGE). Although users primarily access the feature through the search bar, it is also advertised in Google Image results.

Google said it would increase restrictions to prevent the creation of "harmful or misleading content," adding that user-created images would have watermarks and metadata tags to indicate they were generated by artificial intelligence. Google says it will soon roll out a feature called "About this image" to verify the similarity of AI-generated images and traditional images.

The company also says its generative search feature will allow users to create draft documents, apparently unlike similar Bard features.

Image functionality is similar to other services

Google's AI image generation capabilities will compete with many other similar services, such as Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Nightcafe, and DALL-E. SHAPE\* MERGEFORMAT

However, while many of these services offer free versions, most require users to purchase credits in order to upgrade to the platform's full potential. Google's statement made no mention of the payment tier, nor did it mention whether the features were free. In any case, introducing the technology to a search engine with such a large consumer base will enable more users to use it.

The closest competitor right now is Microsoft's Bing Image Creator. The service went live in March and was upgraded in October. It requires users to sign up for an account, but it's free to use through Bing Chat prompts.