A major new Midjourney rival has landed – here’s how to try the open-source Flux

Flux.1 is a new AI image generator developed by Black Forest Labs, an open-source model rapidly gaining recognition for its high-quality outputs. Black Forest Labs was founded by former Stability AI members, the creators of Stable Diffusion, and some are calling Flux.1 a potential successor to Stable Diffusion and a game-changer in the generative AI space. Flux.1 comes in three versions: Pro, Dev, and Schnell, with the Pro version tailored for commercial use and the other two optimized for different performance and speed needs. Unlike many competitors, Flux.1 can run on reasonably powerful laptops, making it more accessible to a wider audience, including hobbyists and small businesses. This accessibility eliminates the need for expensive hardware or cloud storage, distinguishing it from models like Midjourney. Additionally, Flux.1 excels in rendering human figures, a key advantage over some rivals. Black Forest Labs is also developing a text-to-video model to expand its offerings. The company is deeply involved in generative AI research, aiming to push the boundaries of creativity, efficiency, and diversity while making its models widely available to educate the public and enhance trust in AI. Users can access Flux.1 through various platforms, including NightCafe and Poe, or by downloading it for local use. The open-source nature of Flux.1 and its compatibility with multi-model platforms further expand its reach.