In a significant development for the integration of artificial intelligence in creative fields, OpenAI has made its ChatGPT's native image generation model available through its API. This move allows third-party developers to incorporate the text-to-image generator tool into their applications, marking a new era for design and content creation.
Among the early adopters of this technology are major companies like Adobe, Figma, Quora, and Wix. Figma, for instance, began rolling out the gpt-image-1 model in its Figma Design platform on April 23, 2025. This model enables designers to "rapidly explore ideas and iterate visually, all in Figma," according to OpenAI.
The gpt-image-1 model is also accessible through Wixel, Wix's AI-powered platform designed for creating images, templates, and other visuals. Soon, it will be integrated into Adobe’s Firefly and Express applications, and will serve as the default image model on Quora.
OpenAI's new image generation model is touted for its versatility, which allows it to create images across diverse styles, adhere to custom guidelines, leverage extensive world knowledge, and accurately render text. This opens up countless practical applications across various domains, as noted by OpenAI.
Other companies like Canva, GoDaddy, Instacart, and HubSpot are also exploring potential uses for the image generator within their platforms. For each square image generated using its model, OpenAI will charge companies approximately $0.02 for low-quality images, $0.07 for medium quality, and $0.19 for high-quality images.
In terms of user engagement, ChatGPT’s image generator made a remarkable debut earlier this month, with around 130 million users generating over 700 million images within the first week of its launch. Notably, Studio Ghibli-inspired images quickly became a trend on social media, although some outputs raised eyebrows for being somewhat disturbing.
Initially, OpenAI offered the AI tool free to all users, but due to overwhelming demand, it had to pause access for free users temporarily. However, the service has since resumed, albeit with a limitation of three images per day for free users.
Meanwhile, in a separate but equally compelling story, Lauren Bannon, a 40-year-old mother, credits ChatGPT with saving her life after using the AI to help diagnose her Hashimoto's disease, which later developed into thyroid cancer. Lauren felt "let down" by doctors who dismissed her symptoms, which included difficulty bending her fingers, stomach pains, and rapid weight loss, labeling them as rheumatoid arthritis and acid reflux.
Desperate for answers, Lauren turned to ChatGPT, which suggested she might have Hashimoto's disease. Despite her doctor's skepticism—who claimed there was no family history of the condition—Lauren insisted on being tested in September 2024. To her shock, the test confirmed that she indeed had Hashimoto's disease.
This diagnosis prompted further medical investigations, leading to scans of her thyroid, which revealed two small lumps in her neck that were confirmed as cancerous in October 2024. Medical research continues to explore the relationship between Hashimoto's disease and cancer, with some professionals suggesting a link.
After undergoing an operation in January 2025 to remove her thyroid and two lymph nodes from her neck, Lauren remains under lifelong monitoring to ensure the cancer does not return. She believes that without the assistance of ChatGPT, her cancer would have gone undetected.
Reflecting on her experience, Lauren stated, "I didn't have the typical symptoms of Hashimoto's disease; I wasn't tired or feeling exhausted. If I hadn't looked on ChatGPT, I would've just taken the rheumatoid arthritis medication and the cancer would've spread from my neck to everywhere else. The doctor said I was very lucky to have caught it so early. I know for sure that cancer would've spread without using ChatGPT. It saved my life."
Lauren encourages others to use ChatGPT for health concerns, advising caution but also emphasizing the potential benefits of seeking additional testing if the AI suggests a condition. "It can't do any harm. I feel lucky to be alive," she concluded, highlighting the importance of being proactive about one's health.
As OpenAI's image generation technology continues to evolve and find applications in various industries, stories like Lauren's remind us of the profound impact AI can have on individual lives. Whether through creative innovation or personal health insights, the integration of AI in our daily lives is becoming increasingly significant.
