Microsoft announced in a blog post that it is testing a DALL-E-powered text-to-image creation tool in the Windows 11 version of Microsoft Paint. The tool, called PaintCocreator, creates artwork based on descriptions typed by the user.
Additionally, users can select an art style and Cocreator will generate three variations. After choosing the one you like, users can edit the work by adding layers, etc. This is also a new feature of drawing software.
However, it remains to be seen how well OpenAI's latest DALL-E image generation model converts text into images - previous generations of DALL-E struggled to properly understand text input. In addition, DALL-E is prone to gender and racial bias. Microsoft said in a blog post that it has taken steps to prevent "harmful, offensive, or inappropriate" images from being generated, but did not provide further details.
PaintCocreator will be available to all Windows 11 users in a few weeks, but now, Microsoft is slowly rolling out the feature to Windows Insiders. Users must join the waitlist to get the preview. They will then receive 50 credits, each of which allows them to create a new set of images. This credit system may change after the preview period ends, and it looks like users may be required to pay in the future.
Currently, PaintCocreator can be previewed by English-speaking users in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, Italy, and Germany.
Cocreator is one of many new AI-powered creative updates Microsoft has recently added to Windows 11. For example, a new feature in the Microsoft Photos app for Windows 11 can blur the background to highlight the subject or any area the customer likes. Users can also adjust the intensity of the blur.
Other new AI tools include Windows Copilot Sidebar, an AI assistant that lets you adjust PC settings, launch apps, ask questions, and more.