Midjourney Enters the Hardware Arena: Applications Now Open!

Midjourney, the leading AI image generation company, has formally announced its entry into the hardware space, as confirmed by their official account on X (formerly known as Twitter). The company is actively seeking applicants for its new hardware team to be based in San Francisco. This move marks a significant expansion from its current offerings, which focus on generating still images using diffusion-based AI models.

Leading the hardware division will be Ahmad Abbas, the former Hardware Engineering Manager for Apple's Vision Pro headset and a previous colleague of Midjourney's founder, David Holz, at Leap Motion. Abbas' appointment as the 'Head of Hardware' at Midjourney, starting December 2023, has been confirmed through his LinkedIn profile and an earlier announcement he made on the platform.

Midjourney has hinted that the forthcoming hardware will be innovative and unlike anything currently on the market. The devices will not take the form of AI-powered pendants, a common trend in early AI hardware, primarily because such formats are inadequate for displaying the high-detail images that Midjourney's technology generates. Cryptic messages from the company suggest that the new device might be something immersive that users 'go inside of,' sparking speculation about its form factor.

David Holz, one of the co-founders of Midjourney, has also indicated that the hardware team will likely be based in San Francisco, as remote work might not be feasible for hardware development. Additionally, Holz has previously expressed interest in creating an 'orb,' which could give further clues to the potential design and functionality of the new hardware.

This announcement comes at a time when Midjourney is facing increased competition in the AI image-generation field. Notable competitors include xAI’s Grok 2 and Ideogram 2, both of which offer advanced photorealistic image generation capabilities. In response, Midjourney has updated its web interface, making it more unified and accessible to all users, not just those within its Discord server.

Midjourney's venture into hardware does not come without risks. Previous attempts by AI-focused startups like Rabbit and Humane to launch dedicated AI devices have struggled to gain mainstream acceptance. Even established tech companies like Meta and Snapchat have had difficulty persuading consumers to invest in innovative hardware, such as augmented reality glasses, given the ubiquity of smartphones and laptops.

However, the AI hardware space is expected to become more exciting with notable figures like OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman and former Apple designer Jony Ive also reportedly exploring new AI hardware initiatives. With Midjourney entering this competitive landscape, it remains to be seen how their new hardware will perform once it becomes available to users.

In summary, Midjourney's announcement to dive into the hardware realm is a bold step that could redefine their position in the AI industry. While the company has yet to reveal specific details about its planned hardware, the involvement of experienced professionals like Ahmad Abbas indicates promising potential. As the AI hardware market evolves, Midjourney’s innovative approach will be one to watch closely.