Free Access to DALL-E 3 Now Available, Exclusively Outside ChatGPT

Microsoft's Bing Image Generator Gets a Boost with DALL-E 3

The world of AI-generated images is buzzing with excitement, and Microsoft is stepping up its game. While OpenAI's DALL-E 2 set the stage for AI image generation, their latest model, DALL-E 3, is now behind a paywall. But don't worry, Microsoft has a solution for you.

On Wednesday, Microsoft announced significant upgrades to its Bing Image Generator, now powered by OpenAI's DALL-E 3 model, PR16. This upgrade promises users a smoother, faster, and higher-quality experience. And the best part? It's free to use.

A Fresh Look and Easier Access

The Bing Image Creator standalone site has been revamped with a more intuitive, clean, and minimalistic UI. Gone are the days of navigating through a cluttered, black and pink interface. The new design makes it easier than ever to create and explore.

But that's not all. You can now generate images directly from the Bing and Microsoft Edge search bar. Just type in a prompt like "create an image of [insert what you want generated]" and watch the magic happen.

Prompt: a bright toucan sitting in the jungle

Generated via Bing Image Creator by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

Sharing Made Simple

Microsoft has also made it easier to share your creations on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. These improvements started rolling out across all platforms yesterday, with a refreshed homepage coming soon to mobile devices.

Safety First

Microsoft assures users that they've implemented guardrails to ensure a safe experience. This includes blocking prompts for potentially harmful images, adding a watermark in the bottom corner of each image, and providing content credentials for each image.

The Cost-Effective Alternative

One of the biggest advantages of using Bing Image Creator is that you don't have to pay for unlimited access to DALL-E 3. With OpenAI, you'd need a $20 per month ChatGPT Plus subscription for unlimited renditions, while free users are limited to just two per day.

While DALL-E 3 does a great job of adhering to prompts, our tests at ZDNET showed that the images can sometimes look a bit synthetic, especially when compared to models like Google's Imagen 3. All the images in this article were created using Bing Image Creator, and you might notice that slight synthetic look.

So, if you're eager to try out DALL-E 3 without breaking the bank, Microsoft's Image Creator is your best bet. The subscription just doesn't seem worth it when you can get the same experience for free.