Midjourney is an AI art generator that has exploded in popularity in 2024 and 2023. With over 16 million registered users already, it‘s one of the fastest growing AI tools out there.
In this complete guide, we‘ll cover everything a new Midjourney user needs to know to get started and get the most out of this powerful AI art generator.
What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is an independent research lab exploring new mediums of thought and expanding human creativity through AI. In simple terms, it‘s a bot you can chat with to create stunning AI-generated art from text prompts.
Here‘s a quick overview:
- Created in 2021 and launched in 2024
- Uses machine learning and neural networks to generate art
- Currently functions as a bot within Discord
- Requires a Discord account to use
- Offers Basic to Pro subscription plans
The technology behind Midjourney is based on a machine learning technique called diffusion, which randomly generates images and then improves them over time based on the text prompts.
Each new version of Midjourney represents an evolution in the AI‘s artistic capabilities. The latest version at the time of writing is v4.
Why Do People Use Midjourney?
There are several key reasons Midjourney has attracted over 16 million users already:
Easy and Fast Art Generation
The main appeal is the ability to get AI-generated art quickly and easily. Within seconds, you can create stunning images from text prompts without any artistic skill needed.
Art Therapy and Creative Exploration
83% of users see Midjourney as "art therapy" – it‘s relaxing, creative and helps unlock new ideas. 70% of images made are never even shared.
Community of Artists and Creators
Being embedded within Discord has fostered a thriving community of artists, creators and AI enthusiasts collaborating and sharing ideas.
Accessible AI Technology
Midjourney presents cutting-edge AI in an accessible way for anyone to experiment with. It‘s a glimpse into the future of AI creativity.
Fun and Inspiring
Most of all, people use Midjourney because creating AI art is simply fun, inspiring and mind-expanding!
Midjourney Users: How Many People Use Midjourney in 2024?
Midjourney has seen exponential growth in users since launching less than a year ago. Here‘s a deep dive into the latest statistics:
Over 16 Million Registered Midjourney Users
As of February 2023, there are over 16 million registered users on Midjourney according to official statistics shared by Discord.
This represents staggering growth from just 25,000 users in July 2022 when Midjourney first launched.
In just 7 months, Midjourney has gone from a small beta test to a user base larger than most social networks and apps ever achieve.
Midjourney registered user growth (Image credit: Midjourney)
At this current trajectory, Midjourney could amass over 50 million users by the end of 2023 – rivaling top consumer apps.
Gender Breakdown: 66% Male, 36% Female
Midjourney appeals more to male users, according to a sample survey of over 1,000 users in January 2023. 66% identified as male, while 36% identified as female.
However, the gap has narrowed since earlier surveys in 2024 when over 70% of users were male. As Midjourney gains mainstream traction, the user base is diversifying.
Age Demographics: Highest Adoption in 25-34 Year Olds
Midjourney has its strongest adoption among young professionals aged 25-34, who make up 37.4% of users according to the survey.
18-24 year olds are the next biggest demographic at 26.43%. Combined, these two age groups represent almost two-thirds of Midjourney‘s user base.
This indicates that younger, technologically savvy generations are the early pioneers using AI generative art tools like Midjourney for both professional and recreational purposes.
Professional Profile: Developers and Creatives Dominate
When surveyed on their professions, Midjourney users are disproportionately likely to be developers, graphic designers, animators, and other creative professionals.
This aligns with Midjourney‘s positioning as a creative tool to augment human artistic abilities. Tech-savvy knowledge workers are at the forefront of experimenting with Midjourney‘s capabilities.
As a small business owner myself, I believe AI tools like Midjourney will soon be indispensable for creatives, marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs looking to leverage leading-edge technologies.
Geographic Distribution: Highest Adoption in US, Brazil and India
The US accounts for the largest share of Midjourney users at 17.24%, followed by Brazil (4.98%) and India (4.94%).
However, Midjourney has achieved a remarkably global user base, with significant representation across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
This worldwide reach indicates that interest in AI art transcends geographic and cultural boundaries. The technology is capturing people‘s imaginations everywhere.
How Midjourney is Used
Now that we‘ve explored who is using Midjourney, let‘s look at how they are putting this AI art generator to use:
70% Use Midjourney Accounts for Fun
The majority of users – around 70% according to Midjourney‘s estimates – create their accounts purely for entertainment and creative exploration.
This speaks to the delightful, addictive nature of creating AI art. The technology taps into our fundamental human appreciation for beauty and imagination.
83% See It As Art Therapy
In the same vein, 83% of surveyed Midjourney users view it as a form of relaxation or "art therapy".
Just the simple act of formulating text prompts and seeing the AI art unfold triggers our creative mindset. It‘s a therapeutic, meditative escape from stress and negative emotions.
Further highlighting the personal enjoymentUsers they derive, approximately 70% of the images generated are never shared publicly online according to Discord‘s data.
Midjourney provides inner fulfillment beyond social media vanity metrics. The art is an end in itself.
Midjourney SUBREDDIT Has Over 580k Members
While most art stays private, there is a thriving public community too. The Midjourney subreddit has over 580,000 members sharing their creations, tips and feedback.
There are around 250 new posts daily showcasing Midjourney art across every genre imaginable. The community growth mirrors Midjourney‘s expanding user base.
Discord Remains the Hub
Midjourney‘s home on Discord remains the epicenter though. This is where users access the bot, get support, share work, and connect with the community.
Discord‘s real-time chat environment provides the perfect platform for Midjourney to engage users and cultivate a vibrant, collaborative culture around AI-generated art.
Getting Started with Midjourney
Ready to take the plunge into Midjourney? Here are the key steps every new user should take:
1. Join Discord
Create a free Discord account, if you don‘t already have one. It takes seconds.
2. Join the Midjourney Bot
Inside Discord, join the Midjourney server. This gives you access to the Midjourney bot to start generating art via text prompts.
3. Start with the Free Tier
Before paying, get familiar with Midjourney via the free Basic subscription. You get 25 monthly generations.
4. Experiment with Prompts
This is the fun part! Try prompting Midjourney to create anything you can imagine. Be creative and specific.
5. Upgrade for More Generations
If you want unlimited generations, upgrade to a paid plan. Pro plans unlock the highest quality 2048×2048 images.
Post your creations on the Midjourney Subreddit, Discord or Instagram. Get inspired by over 500,000 other users.
7. Turn Your Visions into Reality
Now turn the AI art into real world products, assets, marketing material to elevate your business or brand.
The possibilities are endless with Midjourney. Let your imagination run wild! Please let me know if you need any guidance getting started.
