AI is the not so new buzzword floating around these days, but now more than ever are they actually a tool for the common internet user. While imperfect, and rife with moral debate that this particular article will not go into, they are more accessible then ever. I've even been using them to help write this blog and make the images for some of them.
Granted when I asked for a cover for the phishing article, I did not anticipate a fish getting a phishing email, but it was too funny not to use. So, as a fun meta-experiment. I asked ChatGPT (chat.openai.com) to help me write this article. I said "Write an article about the fun new uses for AI, such as chat GPT and MidJourney for non-expert users doing their first experiments with this new technology". It dutifully responded with the following.
Artificial intelligence has been around for decades, but it's only recently that it's started to become more accessible to the average person. Two examples of this are chatbots like ChatGPT and MidJourney, which allow non-experts to experiment with AI in a fun and engaging way.
ChatGPT is a chatbot powered by OpenAI's GPT language model, which can carry on conversations with users in a natural and engaging way. It can answer questions, tell jokes, and even provide advice on a wide range of topics. Because it's powered by AI, ChatGPT is constantly learning and improving, making it a fun and exciting way for users to interact with this technology.
MidJourney is another example of how AI is becoming more accessible to non-experts. This platform allows users to create their own virtual reality experiences using a combination of AI-generated scenes and user-generated content. With MidJourney, users can create their own 3D environments and then explore them using a virtual reality headset or even a web browser.
Both of these examples show how AI is starting to become more accessible to non-experts, and how it can be used in fun and engaging ways. For people who are interested in exploring this technology further, there are many resources available online, including tutorials, videos, and forums where users can share their experiences and learn from each other.
As AI continues to evolve and become more integrated into our daily lives, it's exciting to think about all the possibilities for how it could be used in the future. From creating personalized recommendations for music and movies, to designing custom clothing based on our individual preferences, the possibilities are endless. And with platforms like ChatGPT and MidJourney, it's easier than ever for non-experts to start exploring this technology and discovering its potential for themselves.
In conclusion, AI is becoming more accessible to non-experts, and platforms like ChatGPT and MidJourney are making it easier than ever to experiment with this technology in fun and engaging ways. As we continue to explore the possibilities of AI, it's important to remember that it's still a relatively new field, and there is much to learn and discover. But with the right tools and resources, anyone can start exploring this exciting new frontier and discovering its potential for themselves.
While I was personally unaware that MidJourney was used for 3d environment, I'd only played with the images generated on its discord server; the response was rather on point, if brief. I've found these AIs more entertaining than useful, but a healthy dose of both depending on your end goal. Chat GPT can be used for anything from expediting the effort to make a business plan, rephrasing an email to have a particular tone, or even making menu planning easier.
MidJourney, I think, has great value for quick iterations, such as coming up with a base to work from while communicating with an expert graphic designer, cutting down the time and effort for both the client and artist. Its also fun for things where a vague idea is more valuable then time-intensive exactness, such as an image to bring to my D&D friends of what a new monster or a space tavern might look like that I don't have the time or skills to draw well, but is more immersive than just explaining what it looks like in my head. However, it does have draw backs. Both of these AIs mentioned can definitely get it wrong, especially if your not careful with your phrasing. For example, MidJourney seems to have no idea how many ears a rabbit is supposed to have, and these Ai's can have a certain anonymous coldness to their responses, as well as a lack of style or voice unless specified to mimic an artist or style. But, to show off what they are good at, as its late and I want to finish this blog quickly, I'll have it explain how to get started. I'll ask "How to do set up an account and get started with chat GPT "
.... in classic fashion, it did what I asked, but it told me how to get started using Chat GPT's API keys, which the average reader of this blog probably has no idea what that is, let alone use for, so I'm trying again with specifically how to make requests just using its own website.
So I responded with "try again only leave out the API key stuff and just explain how to use it via its own website"
... This time it was too simple, it explained the demo version. So, 3rd time is the charm, I asked "Try again but still include how to make an account to retrieve and continue your chats "
... Yes! Here is what I wanted it to say. Its correct. I'm not totally sure if it was less work then explaining it myself, but at least I didn't have to log out and make another account to make sure I'm explaining it right.
Sure, here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up an account and get started with Chat GPT:
Go to the Chat GPT website at http://chat.openai.com/
Click on the "Sign Up" button on the homepage.
Enter your email address, choose a username, and create a password for your account.
Click the "Continue" button. You will receive a verification email in your inbox.
Click on the verification link in the email to activate your account.
Once your account is activated, you can log in to the Chat GPT dashboard.
From the dashboard, you can start a new chat by clicking on the "New Chat" button.
Type in a prompt or question that you would like Chat GPT to respond to.
After you submit your prompt, Chat GPT will generate a response. You can continue the conversation by responding to Chat GPT's message or asking another question.
You can also save your conversations by clicking on the "Save" button at the bottom of the chat window. This will allow you to retrieve your conversation later if you need it.
To retrieve your saved conversations, click on the "Conversations" button on the dashboard. You will see a list of your saved chats.
Click on a conversation to view it. You can also download the conversation as a text file.
That's it! With these simple steps, you can set up your Chat GPT account and start experimenting with the power of AI chatbots. Remember to have fun and explore the different prompts and questions that Chat GPT can respond to.
Well, with that being successful, I'll try again with asking Chat GPT how to get started with MidJourney. This time, having learned, I will be more specific, I'll ask "How do I get started with an account for MidJourney, download and access the discord, send a prompt, and tips for making a good image prompt"
MidJourney is an AI-powered storytelling tool that allows users to generate stories from image prompts. Here's how to get started with an account and start using MidJourney:
Create an account on the MidJourney website: To get started with MidJourney, you'll need to create an account on their website. Navigate to https://midjourney.com/ and click the "Sign Up" button in the top right corner. Follow the prompts to create your account.
Download and access the Discord: After creating your account, you'll need to join MidJourney's Discord server to access the AI chatbot. You can download Discord from https://discord.com/ and create an account if you don't already have one. Once you're logged into Discord, follow the invite link provided on the MidJourney website to join their server.
Send a prompt to MidJourney: Once you're in the MidJourney Discord server, you can start generating stories by sending image prompts to the chatbot. To do this, simply send a message to the #prompt-channel with an image attached. MidJourney will then use its AI algorithms to generate a story based on the image.
Tips for making a good image prompt: To get the best results from MidJourney, it's important to choose image prompts that are clear and have a strong narrative element. Avoid images that are too abstract or don't have a clear focal point. It's also helpful to choose images that have a strong emotional component, as these tend to generate more interesting and engaging stories.
Retrieve and continue your chats: After generating a story with MidJourney, you can retrieve your chat logs by visiting the "My Account" section on the MidJourney website. Here, you can view all of your previous chat sessions with the chatbot, including the stories it generated for you. If you want to continue a previous chat session, simply click the "Continue Chatting" button to pick up where you left off.
By following these steps, you can get started with MidJourney and begin generating your own AI-powered stories from image prompts.
Ok, pretty good. Honestly I didn't even know about logging back in to retrieve art. I did find it kind of a pain to have to keep scrolling down the chats and catch your image as it went flying by with all the other requests. However, it left out an important detail, in order to get your image to generate you have to start with /imagine. You also don't use the #prompt-channel. I'll ask it to specify. "How do I use the /imagine prompt on midjourney?"
To use the /imagine prompt on MidJourney, follow these steps:
Join the MidJourney Discord server: To use MidJourney, you'll need to join the Discord server. You can do this by following the invite link provided on the MidJourney website or by searching for "MidJourney" in the Discord server search.
Type /imagine in the #bot-commands channel: Once you're in the server, go to the #bot-commands channel and type "/imagine" followed by a space and then a prompt. For example: "/imagine a city in the clouds." Hit enter to send the command.
Wait for the AI to generate a response: Once you've sent the command, the AI will generate a response based on your prompt. This may take a few seconds, depending on how busy the server is.
Share your response: Once you receive a response from the AI, you can share it in the Discord channel for others to see and react to. You can also use the response as inspiration for your own creative projects.
Tips for using the /imagine prompt:
Keep your prompt open-ended: The more open-ended your prompt is, the more creative and varied the AI's response will be. Avoid giving too many details or constraints.
Be specific when necessary: While open-ended prompts are usually best, there may be times when you need to be more specific. If you're looking for a response in a particular genre or style, for example, you can include that in your prompt.
Use imagery and sensory details: Including imagery and sensory details in your prompt can help the AI generate a more vivid and engaging response.
Have fun and experiment: MidJourney is a tool for creative exploration and experimentation, so don't be afraid to try out different prompts and see where they take you.
... ok ... the first half is just wrong. So I'll just explain myself. To make an image enter one of the #newbies channels, to start your request, enter /imagine prompt: then enter your idea. Describe it as well as possible, with the most important details first. If you need help making a good prompt, there are better blog posts than this overview. Once you hit enter, you'll be put in line. You can scroll down and see your image gradually get more detailed, then as soon as its done, it jumps down the chat. I recommend hitting "jump to present" on mobile or dragging the side scroller all the way down on computers. Once it is generated it comes back with buttons under it "V1, V2, V3, V4; U1, U2, U3, U4". These are for making versions and upscaling. If one of the 4 images generated is closer to what you want, click V (Image#). If one is perfect and you want a bigger better rendering of it, click U (image#). Images are numbers like the following grid:
Image 1 Image 2
Image 3 Image 4
Voila, your image, as best interpreted and rendered by machine. Be creative, have fun, be absurd. See what these tools can do for you, and enter the fray of debate regarding their ethics from an informed place, or just enjoy.
Here are a few images I've made on MidJourney. Everything from pirate rabbits to mimic chairs, mostly for my D&D group.
Overall, this post took about 1 hour to write, as compared to 2 hours working entirely on my own. It is also an interesting side note that I originally misspelled MidJourney as MisJourny when I entered my Chat GPT prompts and it parroted back my misspelling, I have fixed it in both my own writing and its responses for clarity.
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