How AI makes images based on a few words

Humans have designed a range of tools to aid us in the creation of art, and they've evolved dramatically over time. The creative person's tool kit has recently grown with the addition of a formidable new tool: text-to-image generators powered by artificial intelligence. The possibilities of what this novel technology can be used to create are in many ways endless, but that wide range of potential comes at a cost. While some images -- whether cartoon-like doodles or highly realistic scenes that resemble real photographs -- may be creative or inspiring, others could in some cases be harmful or dangerous. When a user enters a handful of key words, these models generate images that combine those concepts in novel ways.