ONE BIG THING

Midjourney moves away from Discord and launches its own web platform

Want to experiment with Midjourney but don’t want to sign up for Discord? You’re in luck—Midjourney now lets you create up to 25 images for free (on a temporary free trial), all without needing to sign up for Discord. The announcement came from CEO David Holz (yes, on Discord), but now you can use the tool directly through a dedicated web app.

Previously, using Midjourney meant navigating its Discord server and learning a specific prompt format, which worked well for dedicated users but felt like a hassle for many. Now, you can just head to Midjourney’s site, sign up, and start creating. 

The website was originally only available to those who had already made 10,000 images via Discord—quite the milestone—but it’s now open to everyone. You still need to register, but you can use your Google account if that’s easier for you.

Once you’re signed in, you can browse images in the ‘Explore’ section for ideas, and when you’re ready to create, simply enter your prompt in the ‘Create’ tab. The AI will generate four images based on what you’ve entered, and if you want to tweak them, you can use the “Strong” or “Subtle” options to adjust the output.

After your 25 free images, you’ll need to subscribe if you want to keep creating, and plans start at $10 per month for the basic tier. 

Check it out

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT

This AI-powered code-editor is built by Zed in collaboration with Anthropic

AI and developer tools go hand in hand. Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene a few years ago, seasoned developers and hobby developers alike have been using LLMs (large language models) to fix bugs, explain functions, and even build entire apps. 

Alongside that, new AI tools like ShellMate and Ellipsis have sprung up with the goal of making a developer's life easier, and already popular tools have begun to adopt the technology to improve their product offerings. One of them is Zed, the popular Rust-based, multiplayer code editor built by the creators of Atom and Treesitter. 

Over the past two years, the Zed team has quietly experimented with LLMs to build a fast, reliable text editor that ships with the tools devs need right out of the box. That work caught the eye of Anthropic, spurring a conversation that quickly became collaboration. 

The result is Zed AI, a hosted service developed in tandem with Anthropic that gives developers the ability to use AI right inside their code editor. 

So what can it do? Zed AI enhances coding productivity with two core features: the Assistant Panel and Inline Transformations. The Assistant Panel provides a text-based interface where developers can issue commands to interact with AI models, pulling context from files, codebases, or terminal outputs to generate code or get help on demand.

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AI EXPLAINED

California’s AI regulation bill

California’s Senate Bill 1047 is a big move towards regulating artificial intelligence. With AI becoming a part of daily life—from deciding who gets hired to who gets a loan—the idea is to protect people from the potential downsides while still allowing tech innovation to thrive. Let’s dive in.

Who’s Behind It?

The bill is being pushed by Senator Scott Wiener, who wants to set some ground rules to prevent AI from doing harm and to hold companies accountable. It’s also supported by Elon Musk, who has been warning for years that AI could be dangerous if left unchecked.

On the flip side, the bill has been heavily criticized by a number of tech giants including, Marc Andreeson and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, calling the bill cumbersome, vague and also sounding the alarm for the potential negative effects it could have on open-source technology.

What the Bill Does

1. Transparency: Companies have to let people know when AI is being used to make important decisions about their lives, like getting a job or a loan.

2. Fairness: The bill requires that AI systems can’t discriminate based on things like race, gender, or religion.

3. Accountability: Companies that develop AI have to assess any risks their systems might pose and take steps to prevent problems. If their AI causes harm, they can be held responsible.

4. AI Advisory Board: The bill also creates an AI Advisory Board of experts who will help guide AI development, making sure it’s ethical and safe for society.

Why It Matters

SB 1047 puts California at the forefront of AI regulation. Since California is home to so many tech companies, the rules set here could shape how AI is developed and used across the world. As AI continues to grow, this law could serve as a blueprint for future regulations. The question that remains is whether this bill will stifle innovation in the name of safety. Only time will tell.

AI IN THE HEADLINES

🖼️ Google has expanded access to Imagen 3 to all US-based users. 

🎨 Procreate vowed not to introduce generative AI features in its app.

🤖 Anthropic launched a new feature that makes prompting AI easier.

📱 Here’s every AI reveal announced at Made by Google 2024.