Meta has announced a partnership with Midjourney to license its aesthetic technology for use in Meta’s models and products, a move revealed by Meta’s new chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang. This collaboration is described as a technical partnership between research teams from both companies, indicating that it encompasses more than merely integrating Midjourney’s existing tools into Meta’s services.
Details regarding the specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, and both Meta and Midjourney have not provided further comments on the matter. Meta has been focusing on advancing its AI capabilities to better compete with companies such as OpenAI and Google. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made significant investments in attracting AI talent from other organizations, including a recent acquisition of a sizable stake in Scale AI, co-founded by Wang.
The partnership aligns with Meta’s objectives to enhance AI-generated imagery across its platforms. The Meta AI app, for instance, is designed around a gallery of AI-generated images and videos. Features have been introduced across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram that allow users to generate AI images, enhancing the user experience and content creation capabilities.
Midjourney, known for its AI image and video generation technology, may play a crucial role in helping Meta develop these new features. Wang highlighted Midjourney’s achievements, expressing enthusiasm for the collaboration, with plans for both companies to reveal more about their joint endeavors in the near future.
Despite the partnership with Meta, Midjourney continues to operate as an independent, community-supported research lab without external investors, as confirmed by its founder and CEO, David Holz.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/764715/meta-ai-midjourney-license-partnership