How AI Is Not a Phone App

Ever since my social media launch, I've been asked this innocent question a lot: "Which app did you use to generate this?" At first, I smiled at how AI art was being mistaken for simple photo filters. But it made me realize how mysterious AI image generation still is to many people. So, on my journey to demystify AI and break it down for the masses, I decided to address this topic first!

Think back to when you last edited a photo on your phone. Maybe you brightened a dark selfie, smoothed out some skin blemishes, or added a fun filter to make your vacation photos pop. Or maybe you went all out and decided to do a full Photoshop or Lightroom edit, spending hours perfecting every shadow and highlight! That's what traditional photo editing apps do – they're like makeup for your pictures, enhancing what's already there. Whether it's a quick Instagram filter or a professional-grade edit, these tools work with what's already in your photo or maybe adding some features to what is already there!

Now, imagine instead of editing photos, you could describe any image you want to a highly skilled artist who could paint it for you instantly. That's what AI image generators like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and Flux do. They're not just touching up existing photos – they're creating brand new images from your words.

Let's break this down with a simpler example:

- When you use Instagram filters, you're telling the app "Make this beach photo more vibrant" or "Give my selfie a vintage look." The app follows a set of rules to adjust the colors and tones that are already there.

- But when you use an AI image generator, you can type something like "A cozy treehouse cafe in a giant maple tree, with string lights and wooden stairs spiraling around the trunk, during sunset" – and it will create that entire scene from scratch, even though that exact treehouse has never existed.

So how do these AI artists work?

Imagine teaching someone to paint by showing them millions of paintings and telling them what each painting contains. That's basically what happens with these AIs, just much faster and more complex. Here's how:

1. The Learning Stage:

Think of it like an art student who has studied millions of pictures. They've learned that:

- "Sunset" means orange and pink skies

- "Cozy" often involves warm lighting and soft textures

- "Treehouse" needs tree branches, wooden structures, and a certain height off the ground

2. The Creation Stage

When you type your description, it's like giving this AI artist a commission. Let's say you ask for "a magical library floating in space":

- First try: It might rough out basic shapes – books, shelves, stars

- Second try: It adds more detail – floating books, glowing lights

- Final version: It refines everything – dust particles in light beams, the texture of old leather books, the swirl of distant galaxies

So what makes each AI artist special?

Each of these AI tools has its own "artistic style," just like human artists do, and it depends completely upon their training, just like human skills vary based upon their life experiences!

Let me make it easier for you to imagine, but please don't think that the entire concept is limited to this simple example:

'Midjourney' may be like an imaginative fantasy artist:

- Fantastic at creating dreamlike scenes

- Loves dramatic lighting and magical effects

- Example: Ask for "a cat cafe in Paris" and you might get something that looks like it's straight out of a Studio Ghibli film – whimsical, detailed, and slightly magical

'Stable Diffusion' may be imagined more like a photographer:

- Great at creating realistic images

- Better at following specific instructions

- Example: That same "cat cafe in Paris" prompt might give you something that looks like a real photo, with realistic cats lounging on vintage furniture near a window with the Eiffel Tower in the distance

'Flux' can be a consistent illustrator:

- Good at creating series of related images

- Maintains the same style across multiple pictures

- Example: If you're creating a children's book about that cat cafe, Flux would help ensure all the cats look the same from page to page

Now, you may ask, if AI can do all this, then what is my or a human contribution to AI Art?

Here's the interesting part: just like giving instructions to a human artist, your words matter a lot. The same prompt can give very different results depending on how you phrase it:

- Basic prompt: "A castle"

- Detailed prompt: "A medieval castle at dawn, with morning mist rolling across the moat, ivy climbing the ancient stone walls, and golden sunlight catching on the highest tower"

The second prompt is much more likely to give you the image you're imagining. It's like being a movie director – you're not holding the camera, but your vision guides the final result.

So what does this mean for the future?

We're entering an exciting time where anyone can be a visual creator. It's like having a whole art studio in your computer that can understand your ideas and help bring them to life. Some cool ways people are using these tools:

- Authors visualizing their characters and scenes

- Game designers quickly trying out different concept art ideas

- Students creating unique illustrations for presentations

- Interior designers showing clients how different room designs might look

- Small business owners creating custom marketing images

But you have to be open-minded and understand the bigger picture!

These AI image generators aren't replacing human creativity – they're more like having a super-powered artistic assistant. They can help you:

- Quickly visualize your ideas

- Experiment with different styles

- Create things you might not have the technical skills to draw yourself

- Save time on basic images so you can focus on more important creative decisions

Just like how digital cameras didn't replace photographers but gave everyone new ways to capture memories, AI image generators are giving everyone new ways to bring their imaginations to life. The magic isn't in the technology itself – it's in the ideas and creativity of the people using it.

Remember: These tools are like having a really talented artist who works at the speed of light but needs clear instructions to give you what you want. The more you understand how to "talk" to them, the better they can help bring your ideas to life.

And here's the exciting part – you can even train them on your own concepts! Whether it's your unique art style, specific characters, or particular visual themes, these AI models can learn to understand and generate images that align perfectly with your creative vision. It's not just about using a tool – it's about developing a creative partnership with AI that grows and evolves with your needs.