Black Forest Labs, the innovative AI startup behind the image generation features of X's Grok chatbot, has unveiled a groundbreaking suite of image-generating models, Flux.1 Kontext. These models not only create new images but also offer advanced editing capabilities, setting a new standard in the rapidly evolving world of AI-driven image generation.
At the heart of Flux.1 Kontext lies the most advanced model, Flux.1 Kontex, which can be prompted with text and an optional reference image to produce high-quality, photorealistic images with impressive typography. Black Forest Labs boasts that these models deliver state-of-the-art results at inference speeds up to 8x faster than current leading models, making them a formidable contender in the competitive landscape of image generation.
Flux.1 Kontext joins the ranks of other cutting-edge models like Google's Imagen 4 and OpenAI's ChatGPT, which gained popularity for its ability to create art in the style of Studio Ghibli movies. The Flux.1 Kontext family consists of two models: Flux.1 Kontex [pro] and Flux.1 Kontex [max]. The [pro] version allows users to generate an image and refine it through multiple "turns," preserving the characters and styles in the images. On the other hand, the [max] version focuses on speed, consistency, and adherence to prompts.
In a departure from Black Forest Labs' previous models, Flux.1 Kontex [pro] and Flux.1 Kontex [max] cannot be downloaded for offline use. However, the company is making an "open" Kontext model, Flux.1 Kontext [dev], available in private beta for research and safety testing.
To further enhance user experience, Black Forest Labs is launching a model playground that allows users to try its models without signing up for a third-party service. New users receive 200 credits, which can generate around 12 images with Flux.1 Kontex [pro].
Black Forest Labs, a German-based company, was reportedly in talks to raise $100 million at a $1 billion valuation toward the end of last year. Many of the founders come from Stability AI, the creator of the notorious Stable Diffusion image-generating model. The company's backers include prominent figures like Andreessen Horowitz, Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe, and Y Combinator's Garry Tan.
Since emerging from stealth mode, Black Forest Labs has released several new image-generating models and enterprise-focused services, including an API. With the introduction of Flux.1 Kontext, the company continues to push the boundaries of AI-driven image generation and editing, offering users unparalleled capabilities and performance.