Artificial intelligence (AI) allows mere mortals to realize their automotive fantasies without lifting a pencil. New cutting-edge AI tools like DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and Adobe Firefly have changed everything. When you type a few novel automotive ideas into the app, the rewards are instant. As you refine the prompt, each iteration brings something more wild and cool to the image.
A Creative Jumpstart
For those lacking artistic experience, ideas come faster than skills. So a unique automotive vision remains stuck in your brain. That’s why AI renders are so intriguing. All you need to do is describe what you want the image to look like, and it appears before your eyes like magic.
It’s all about the prompt. Consider this: “Cadillac Ranch at sunset, with a black and gold 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am, in anime style.” That’s how we produced the image at the top of this page.
Now imagine this scene: Two dragsters (one blue, one red) racing at the strip in 1968. The red dragster is on fire.
Finally, how about a surfer van on gigantic farm tractor tires on the Malibu beach mid-day?
Legal Beagles and Buick Regals
We’ve entered a brave new world—no question about that. But we have a ways to go. Regarding AI automotive rendering, there are still roadblocks to be cleared. It’s essentially a question of intellectual property rights.
On-demand illustrations are built based on large datasets of existing art. For example, aspiring AI car designers might want to put a new spin on a 1963 split-window Corvette or a 23-window Volkswagen bus. But to make that happen, the app must be trained with sufficient images of those vehicles.
In other words, lawyers need to cut contracts before the process commences. For an image-generating app to accurately portray specific vehicles, deals need to be struck with the automakers. Depending on the app, we can ask for a flying minivan, but we might not be able to get specific about the make and model. Midjourney currently has the most targeted automotive artwork.
Three Jeep 4x4s on gigantic farm tractor tires blasting down a drag strip with billowing smoke behind them, as a watercolor courtesy of Adobe Firefly
A Mind-Bending Experience, Nonetheless
If you’re hoping to accurately generate a fleet of airborne Ford Aerostars or a handsome Chrysler Pacifica aloft over the Big Island of Hawaii, it might not happen. Yet.
On the other hand, here’s a chance for your imagination to soar. You don’t need to stick with realism. The AI tools deliver exploration and inspiration for bona fide visionaries. And they’re fantastic at creating interpretive artwork for one-of-a-kind posters, t-shirts, and swag. But you’ll want to consult an art lawyer before selling a product based on AI-generated renderings.
Get started here:
- Midjourney is currently the most potent AI image generator, with access starting at $8 per month. You’ll need to use Discord to access the server and crank out your images alongside fellow newbies.
- Stable Diffusion has an app-like interface at DreamStudio.ai, with 1,000 images for $10. It’s less daunting than Midjourney but seems more likely to distort images.
- Firefly is the new kid on the block with a free Beta, and the interface feels familiar to folks that use Adobe’s Creative Suite. The artwork is licensed, vetted, and pro-quality.
- DALL-E broke from the gate early, but the competition is fierce. OpenAI charges $15 for 115 image generation credits.
