Midjourney is a community-funded research lab of 60 people that builds AI models for generating images and videos, accessible via Discord.
What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is a self-funded, distributed research lab of 60 people known for creating some of the most aesthetically advanced AI models in the world, primarily for image and video generation. Users input text prompts via Discord to generate visual content, and the lab also explores projects in medical AI, software, and hardware. The lab is entirely community-funded and operates with a focus on imagination, coordination, beauty, and human flourishing.
Key Features
- Community-funded model — Midjourney operates without venture capital, relying on user subscriptions and community support, which allows it to prioritize long-term vision over commercial pressure.
- Image and Video Generation — The core product generates high-quality images and videos from text prompts, accessible through Discord commands (e.g.,
/imagine). - Discord Integration — The primary interface is a Discord bot, enabling real-time collaboration and community feedback within a massive server of millions of users.
- Ongoing Research Projects — The lab publicly lists upcoming projects under themes like "Imagination," "Coordination," "Beauty," and "Hardware," with announcements of medical AI ("Midjourney Medical") and future software/hardware releases.
- Medical Initiative — A dedicated medical project aims to apply AI to healthcare, with a specific landing page at Midjourney Medical.
- Self-funded and Distributed — The team of 60 works remotely, funded entirely by user subscriptions, allowing independence and rapid iteration.
- Active Community — The lab maintains a vibrant Discord community (join here) with support channels, showcases, and direct interaction with the development team.
Who is it for?
- Artists and Designers — Use Midjourney to generate concept art, illustrations, and visual assets quickly, iterating via text prompts in Discord.
- Content Creators and Marketers — Create unique visuals for social media, presentations, or campaigns without needing advanced graphic design skills.
- Researchers and Hobbyists — Experiment with AI image generation, explore the lab's open research, and contribute to community discussions.
- Medical Professionals — The lab's medical project aims to provide specialized AI tools for healthcare (details TBA).
What can you do with Midjourney?
- Generate images from text — Type a prompt like "a futuristic cityscape at sunset, cinematic lighting" in Discord to produce multiple image variations.
- Iterate and refine — Use parameters (e.g., aspect ratio, style, quality) and remix options to fine-tune outputs.
- Collaborate with others — Share and remix creations in community channels, or use the Discord server to get feedback and inspiration.
- Stay updated on new projects — Follow the lab's announcements for upcoming software, hardware, and medical applications.
How does Midjourney work?
Users join the Midjourney Discord server (or use a personal subscription bot on their own server) and issue the /imagine command followed by a text prompt. The AI model generates one or more images within seconds. Users can then upscale, make variations, or modify parameters like style and aspect ratio. The output is delivered directly in the Discord channel.
FAQ
Is Midjourney free?
Midjourney offers a free trial limited to roughly 25 image generations. After that, a paid subscription (starting at $10/month) is required for continued use, which provides faster processing and unlimited generations subject to a monthly GPU-minute cap.
What platforms does Midjourney support?
Midjourney operates primarily through Discord on desktop and mobile. There is no standalone app; all generation happens via the bot.
Can I use Midjourney commercially?
Yes, paid subscribers own the rights to images they generate, including for commercial use, subject to the Terms of Service.
What is the maximum resolution of generated images?
Generated images are typically 1024×1024 pixels, with upscaling options to 2048×2048 or higher depending on your subscription tier.
Does Midjourney have an API?
Midjourney does not currently offer a public API. Access is exclusively through the Discord bot.
