What is Bing Image Creator?

Bing Image Creator is a free AI-powered system that generates images based on text descriptions. Users can simply type in what they want to see, and the AI will create four different images based on that description or "prompt." This tool is Microsoft's answer to other popular AI image generators like Stable Diffusion and MidJourney.

The technology behind Bing Image Creator is based on an advanced version of DALL-E, the image creation model developed by OpenAI - the same company responsible for ChatGPT and GPT-4. These are the technologies that power Bing Chat, Microsoft's conversational AI.

How Does Bing Image Creator Work?

Bing Image Creator uses what's known as a diffusion model, an AI system capable of creating images from scratch. The process can be broken down into three main steps:

1. Text Understanding: The AI first analyzes and understands the text prompt you've provided, extracting key terms, names, and understanding the characteristics and styles you've requested.
2. Image Information Creation: Based on your prompt, the AI generates image information.
3. Image Rendering: Finally, a decoder "paints" the image based on the information created in the previous step.

Each time you request an image, the result will be different as the AI processes your request from scratch. This allows for variety and creativity in the generated images.

How to Use Bing Image Creator

Using Bing Image Creator is straightforward:

1. Go to bing.com/create
2. Type in your prompt and click "Join and create"
3. Sign in with your Microsoft account
4. Wait for 1-2 minutes while the AI generates four images based on your description
5. Click on any image to view it in full size (1024x1024 resolution)
6. You can then share, download, or save the image to your account

Currently, Bing Image Creator only accepts prompts in English, though Microsoft plans to add more languages over time.

Bing Image Creator example of "A split image: one half showing a primitive stone oven, the other a sleek, modern pizza oven, with flames visible in both."

The Power of AI in Image Creation

What makes Bing Image Creator particularly powerful is its ability to understand and combine complex concepts, styles, and attributes. You can specify multiple elements in your prompt, separating them with commas, and the AI will incorporate all these details into the final image.

Moreover, Bing Image Creator is integrated with Bing Chat, allowing for an interactive experience. After generating an image, you can ask the AI to make modifications using natural language, such as adding a chimney to a house it just created.