Microsoft unveils MAI Image 2 Efficient AI model, calls it production workhorse: How to access
Follow UsMicrosoft has introduced MAI Image 2 Efficient AI model.
Microsoft describes the new model as a 'production workhorse' which provides 'production-ready quality.'
The company says MAI Image 2 Efficient is 22 per cent faster and four times more efficient than the original model.
Microsoft introduced its MAI Image 2 AI model last month, which is said to create more realistic images and generate clearer text within visuals. Now, the tech giant has announced a new version called MAI Image 2 Efficient, which is faster and cheaper. Microsoft describes the new model as a ‘production workhorse’ which provides ‘production-ready quality.’
SurveyThe company says MAI Image 2 Efficient is 22 per cent faster and four times more efficient than the original model. It is also priced lower. The new model costs $5 per one million text input tokens and $19.50 per one million image output tokens, which is roughly 41 per cent cheaper compared to its earlier offering. The company also claims the new model is about 40 per cent faster on average than other leading text-to-image AI models.
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Microsoft has positioned the two models for different types of work. The new MAI Image 2 Efficient is meant to handle large-scale tasks where speed and cost matter the most. It can generate assets such as product images, marketing visuals, UI mockups and other branded materials in large batches. The company says the model also performs well with short pieces of text placed inside images, such as headlines, captions,or labels.
On the other hand, the original MAI Image 2 model is still available for projects where image quality and detail are the top priority. Microsoft says this version works better for portraits, photorealistic scenes, stylised artwork like anime or illustrations, and images that need longer or more complex texts.
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Microsoft also said that some partners have already started experimenting with the new model. Shutterstock is among the early testers, and the company says initial results look promising.
How to access Microsoft MAI Image 2 Efficient
MAI Image 2 Efficient is available through Microsoft Foundry and the MAI Playground. The model is also rolling out across Copilot and Bing, with integration in more platforms like PowerPoint coming soon.
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