DALL-E 3 Image Generator Now Available for Free in ChatGPT
The impressive DALL-E 3 image generator is now available for free within ChatGPT! However, this new feature comes with a usage limit, likely intended to encourage users to upgrade to paid plans.
Recently, OpenAI has made several moves to make its technologies more accessible, particularly in the free version of ChatGPT. The company has made its chatbot available to everyone without requiring an account, while also introducing the new GPT-4 language model, which replaces GPT-3.5. But the improvements don't stop there—image generation has also been enhanced.
Since September, ChatGPT has been able to generate images using DALL-E 3 from simple text descriptions, known as prompts. Whether you want an abstract painting, a manga drawing, a realistic photo, or a pencil portrait, DALL-E 3 can handle it all. Initially, only users with a paid subscription—ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT Team, or ChatGPT Enterprise—could access this feature. However, OpenAI recently announced on its X (formerly Twitter) account that free users can now also use DALL-E 3. But there are some limitations.
DALL-E 3: Free but Limited
Launched in January 2021, DALL-E—named after the artist Salvador Dalí and the Pixar robot WALL-E—uses deep learning to generate images from text. By analyzing and cross-referencing millions of photos, it can understand which words correspond to which images. The second version, DALL-E 2, released in July 2022, produced even more precise and realistic images. Now, DALL-E 3 takes things a step further, generating stunning visuals.
We tested DALL-E 3 in the free version of ChatGPT, and the results were noticeably better than what the chatbot previously offered. For example, we submitted the prompt: "I am opening a bakery specializing in sourdough bread. Create an illustration with sheaves of wheat for the packaging." Within about ten seconds, we received a traditional-style illustration. We then tried a more unique prompt: "Generate an image using DALL-E 3 representing a mouse standing on top of a mountain of cheese, its paws raised towards the sky in victory, surrounded by the light of the full moon." Again, the result was as charming as it was impressive.
On our third attempt, a message appeared: "You have reached your limit for image creation. Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus or try again tomorrow after 12:32." It turns out OpenAI only allows the generation of two images per day in the free version of ChatGPT. This is particularly restrictive, especially considering that DALL-E 3 is available in the free version of Microsoft Copilot with 15 daily boosts.
Many users on social media are unhappy with this limitation. Whether OpenAI will respond to this feedback remains uncertain. After all, the company likely made DALL-E 3 accessible to free users as a way to entice them to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus by offering a taste of the image generation feature.