Meta is partnering with Midjourney to license the startup’s AI picture and video era know-how, Meta Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang introduced Friday in a submit on Threads. Wang says Meta’s analysis groups will collaborate with Midjourney to deliver its know-how into future AI fashions and merchandise.
“To make sure Meta is ready to ship the very best merchandise for folks it’s going to require taking an all-of-the-above strategy,” Wang stated. “This implies world-class expertise, formidable compute roadmap, and dealing with the most effective gamers throughout the {industry}.”
The Midjourney partnership might assist Meta develop merchandise that compete with industry-leading AI picture and video fashions, corresponding to OpenAI’s Sora, Black Forest Lab’s Flux, and Google’s Veo. Final 12 months, Meta rolled out its personal AI picture era software, Think about, into a number of of its merchandise, together with Fb, Instagram, and Messenger. Meta additionally has an AI video era software, Film Gen, that permits customers to create movies from prompts.
The licensing settlement with Midjourney marks Meta’s newest deal to get forward within the AI race. Earlier this 12 months, CEO Mark Zuckerberg went on a hiring spree for AI expertise, providing some researchers compensation packages value upwards of $100 million. The social media big additionally invested $14 billion in Scale AI, and acquired the AI voice startup Play AI.
Meta has held talks with a number of different main AI labs about different acquisitions, and Zuckerberg even spoke with Elon Musk about becoming a member of his $97 billion takeover bid of OpenAI (Meta in the end didn’t be a part of the provide, and OpenAI denied Musk’s bid).
Whereas the phrases of Meta’s cope with Midjourney stay unknown, the startup’s CEO, David Holz, stated in a submit on X that his firm stays impartial with no buyers; Midjourney is without doubt one of the few main AI mannequin builders that has by no means taken on outdoors funding. At one level, Meta talked with Midjourney about buying the startup, in keeping with Upstarts Media.
Midjourney was based in 2022 and rapidly turned a frontrunner within the AI picture era house for its real looking, distinctive fashion. By 2023, the startup was reportedly on tempo to generate $200 million in income. The startup sells subscriptions beginning at $10 monthly. It gives pricier tiers, which provide extra AI picture generations, that price as a lot as $120 monthly. In June, the startup launched its first AI video mannequin, V1.
Techcrunch occasion
San Francisco
|
October 27-29, 2025
Meta’s partnership with Midjourney comes simply two months after the startup was sued by Disney and Common, alleging that it skilled AI picture fashions on copyrighted works. A number of AI mannequin builders — together with Meta — face comparable allegations from copyright holders, nevertheless, latest courtroom circumstances pertaining to AI coaching information have sided with tech firms.
Acquired a delicate tip or confidential paperwork? We’re reporting on the internal workings of the AI {industry} — from the businesses shaping its future to the folks impacted by their selections. Attain out to Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com and Maxwell Zeff at maxwell.zeff@techcrunch.com. For safe communication, you may contact us through Sign at @rebeccabellan.491 and @mzeff.88.
We’re at all times trying to evolve, and by offering some perception into your perspective and suggestions into TechCrunch and our protection and occasions, you may assist us! Fill out this survey to tell us how we’re doing and get the possibility to win a prize in return!
