Google has rolled out the latest version of its AI image generator, Imagen 3, to users across the United States. The release, as reported by VentureBeat, allows users to experiment with the tool on Google’s AI Test Kitchen platform. According to Google, Imagen 3 is capable of producing images with "better detail, richer lighting, and fewer distracting artifacts" than its previous models.

Google first introduced Imagen 3 during its I/O conference in May, but the tool has only recently become widely accessible through the Vertex AI platform. Reddit users began testing the new capabilities last week, and on Tuesday, Google published a research paper detailing its advancements.

Like other AI image generators, Imagen 3 allows users to generate highly detailed images based on simple text prompts. Additionally, users can make targeted edits by highlighting specific areas of an image and providing instructions for adjustments.

Although there are guardrails in place to prevent the creation of images featuring public figures, such as Taylor Swift, or weapons, users can still create images resembling well-known characters by describing them without using their official names. The tool was able to generate images resembling characters like Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario, while logos for brands such as Apple, Macy’s, Hershey’s, and even Google were also successfully recreated.

These flexible restrictions stand in contrast to Grok, the AI image generator found on Elon Musk’s X platform, which has been used to create controversial content involving drugs, violence, and public figures. Google, however, has encountered its own challenges with AI-generated content. Earlier this year, the company paused its Gemini AI chatbot's image generation feature after it produced historically inaccurate visuals.

While Imagen 3 offers impressive advancements in AI-generated imagery, the potential for misuse remains a topic of concern. Despite the tool's limitations, users continue to push its boundaries, highlighting the ongoing debate over AI's role in creative content production.