This AI Tool Creates Images That Update While You Type. How to Use It
And then there's me, someone simply looking for a way to work with an AI tool to generate images in a way that felt somewhat ethical and also a bit more stimulating than typing one prompt and waiting for AI to deliver me something.
This is particularly what I enjoyed about Artbreeder, an AI-powered platform that creates and modifies images by blending traits from existing visuals.
What is Artbreeder and how does it use AI?
Created in 2018 -- and originally named Ganbreeder -- Artbreeder is a platform that uses generative adversarial networks that give you the ability to generate and adjust the image you've created. These "sliders" control attributes of an image, providing you with more contribution to the final image.
Artbreeder has four pricing tiers, including a free model and one that's priced up to $31/month. These tiers also range in the amount of credits available each year and paid plans include benefits like faster rendering and downloads, privacy controls and advanced features.
Artbreeder's text-to-image feature was added in late 2024, which is an example of how you can crossbreed two or more images while you describe the type of image you'd like to create.
Each model within Artbreeder has been trained on a curated dataset, in hopes of creating category or text-specific images. The intended outcome is that you're co-creating the art in real time. (Which I found much more interesting when inputting information.)
How to use Artbreeder to create images while you type
This is how to use Artbreeder's website for text-to-image creation:
Create a free account on Artbreeder. You can also upgrade if you'd like more credits. At the top of the webpage, Artbreeder has three tabs: Create, Community and Browse. Community and Browse will give you access to trending images and recent posts, while Community provides direct access to what other users are whipping up within the platform. In Create, there are various tools, including Animator, AI Director and Composer -- this is located in the upper right hand part of the screen and where you can work with text-to-image generation. You'll see a button up top labeled Description. As you begin typing, the image below will begin to appear, shifting as you edit or add words to your description. I've tried multiple AI text-to-image generators, yet never witnessed the image being created in front of me! You also can upload personal photos to customize or evolve over time using Artbreeder's tools. At the bottom of the screen are multiple buttons with other features, including reading more about Composer, enhancing your image output and downloading an image to your desktop. Once your creation feels complete, you can also share your creations with others under the Community tab.
Should you use Artbreeder?
Images shift and develop as you continue typing your prompt.
Artbreeder / Screenshot by CNET
Artbreeder is an easy-to-use AI platform that has myriad features and tools. Its editing gives you more control and flexibility over image output -- and an ability to watch the process along the way.
Now, for anyone curious about Artbreeder's ethics, it's important to note that generated images are released under CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) which means that your creations are considered public domain.
Also, you can only upload public domain images or images of your own -- but the training of its datasets may contain copyrighted works (Artbreeder didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on this). This goes along with the long-standing debate around infringement vs. fair use. So while its user creation licensing may make it safer for reuse than others, there's still a gray area around content boundaries and image protection.
Essentially, Artbreeder is ideal for people in early creative stages, like those developing characters or looking to experiment with concepts quickly and visually. I can also see writers building fictional worlds or students learning about AI art will find it valuable.
Yet, professional designers needing more precision than its output and creators concerned about training data ethics may find it too limited or risky. It's a great tool for exploration and inspiration but not always the final destination for high-level work or premium output. But it does provide you with vivid output and keeps other AI tools or ways to experiment with them readily available.
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