Google has recently updated its AI chat assistant, Bard, to include the capability of generating images. This new feature aligns Bard with other AI platforms that offer similar image creation tools, marking a notable enhancement in Google's AI offerings.

Google Bard, initially competing with Microsoft’s Bing and OpenAI’s ChatGPT in text-based responses, now joins the ranks of AI services offering image generation.

Previously,  Bard was capable of accessing a more powerful model called Gemini Ultra, which is now under development. So now, this feature is powered by Google's Imagen 2 model, and aims to provide high-quality, photorealistic images based on text prompts. The feature is designed to balance both quality and speed, ensuring efficient and effective image creation.

Users can access this feature by typing in a description, such as 'create an image of a city street in the evening'. Bard, using the Imagen 2 model, generates custom visuals that align with the given prompt. This model has been trained on high-quality, image-description pairings, enhancing its ability to produce more detailed and semantically aligned images.

Apart from image generation, Bard has seen other significant updates. Google has introduced coding features and app integration, expanding the AI's utility. Bard is now available in more languages and has removed the initial waitlist, making it accessible to a broader audience.

Bard's interaction capabilities have evolved to be more visual. Users can now include images in their prompts, enriching the AI's understanding and response quality. This integration with Google Lens allows for innovative interactions, such as uploading a photo and asking Bard to draft creative captions.

Google has also set limits to prevent the generation of violent, offensive, sexually explicit content, and images of named individuals.

Google Bard's latest update is a significant stride in the AI landscape, offering not just text-based interactions but also rich, visual experiences. This development not only enhances the creative capabilities of Bard but also positions Google as a formidable player in the rapidly evolving AI image generation domain.