Midjourney halts free access as demand surges and trial abuse rises
The Midjourney project, known for its neural network that creates images, has temporarily restricted access to its no-cost version. Reports from Business Insider confirm the pause in free availability as the company moves to implement a system update.
The founder, David Holtz, explained on the official Midjourney Discord channel that the decision came after a spike in demand and patterns of trial misuse. The aim is to stabilize service and ensure fair usage while improvements are rolled out.
In recent weeks, the online environment was flooded with highly convincing images, including depictions of public figures such as Pope Francis and former President Donald Trump dressed in stylish white jackets. These renders circulated widely on social platforms and were so realistic that many viewers initially believed they were authentic photographs. After the images gained traction, Twitter users were met with a notice clarifying that the visuals were outputs from a neural network rather than real photos. The moment underscored ongoing conversations about authenticity and the potential for AI generated imagery to blur the lines between real and fabricated visuals.
Paid tiers remain available for those who want continued access. The current offerings include a basic plan for ten dollars per month, a standard plan at thirty dollars, and a professional option priced at sixty dollars per month.
Earlier discussions on related topics noted that similar capabilities have sparked commercial interest in other regions as well. For instance, reports from other media outlets highlighted the emergence of AI generated products in markets beyond the tech sector, illustrating a broader trend toward monetizing neural network outputs. Source: Business Insider.