Text-to-image generation
Generated images from natural-language prompts inside selected Microsoft creative products.
Historical tool archive
MAI-Image-1: historical overview
MAI-Image-1 was Microsoft's first fully in-house image-generation model and is now a superseded entry in the MAI-Image family.
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What MAI-Image-1 was
MAI-Image-1 was Microsoft's first image-generation model developed entirely in-house. Announced in October 2025, it emphasized fast photorealistic generation, lighting, landscapes, visual variety, and practical iteration for creative work.
Microsoft began rolling it into Bing Image Creator and Copilot Audio Expressions in November 2025, but it is no longer the current MAI image model. The family advanced through MAI-Image-2 and 2.5 to MAI-Image-2.6, while Bing Image Creator now presents newer MAI options. This page is retained as a historical reference for the first release.
Past capabilities
What MAI-Image-1 offered
Photorealistic focus
Microsoft highlighted lighting, reflections, landscapes, and realistic scenes as original strengths.
Fast iteration
The model was designed to balance generation quality and speed so creators could test ideas quickly.
Microsoft product integration
It launched as an option in Bing Image Creator and supported imagery in Copilot Audio Expressions Story Mode.
Availability
Why this listing is historical
MAI-Image-1 did not have a separate consumer subscription; it was bundled into selected Microsoft experiences. It is no longer the current model to price for a new deployment. Bing Image Creator currently offers free creation with account and speed limits, while newer MAI models have their own current Microsoft product and Foundry access.
- MAI-Image-1 has been superseded by multiple newer MAI-Image generations.
- It is not the model Microsoft currently highlights for new image workflows or developer evaluation.
- Its original launch positioning and leaderboard result do not describe the capabilities or pricing of current MAI models.
Status checked . Review the historical source ↗
Current options
Active MAI-Image-1 alternatives
Content Creator
MAI-Image-2
The direct next-generation MAI release, with improved photorealism and creative range over the original model.
Explore MAI-Image-2 →Design
ChatGPT Images 2.0
A current image-generation alternative with modern editing, text rendering, realism, and reasoning features.
Explore ChatGPT Images 2.0 →Content Creator
Nano Banana 2
A current Google image model to compare for speed, instruction following, editing, and generation quality.
Explore Nano Banana 2 →Questions
MAI-Image-1 FAQs
What was MAI-Image-1?
MAI-Image-1 was the first image-generation model developed entirely in-house by Microsoft AI.
Is MAI-Image-1 still the latest Microsoft image model?
No. Microsoft has announced several successors, including MAI-Image-2, 2.5, and 2.6.
Where was MAI-Image-1 available?
Microsoft rolled it into Bing Image Creator and used it for visuals in Copilot Audio Expressions Story Mode in late 2025.
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