OpenAI's Dall-E 3 Is Now In Microsoft Paint

For many decades, one of the most popular Microsoft apps that has remained unchanged is Paint. Today, the company has made a major update to the application with the addition of a new feature called Cocreator.

What is Cocreator?

Cocreator is a new feature in Microsoft Paint that enables users to create AI-generated images using an AI model known as DALL-E. With Cocreator, users can generate images from text descriptions, allowing them to visualize and create anything from mythical creatures to scenic landscapes within the Paint application.

How to get access

Cocreator in Paint’s rollout is initially limited to a waitlist. Go to the Microsoft Store and get the latest Paint update to see the Cocreator button. There should be a “join waitlist” button.

You will receive an email from Microsoft after a day or two.

Click on the “Try Paint Cocreator now” button to enable the feature on the Paint app.

Here’s an example

Bring up the Cocreator menu by clicking the Cocreator button. In the description box, describe the image you want to create.

Here’s an example: I wanted to see an image of a cat walking in the woods.

Prompt: A cat walking in the woods

You can choose the style of the final image by selecting one of these options:

• Charcoal
• Ink Sketch
• Watercolor
• Oil Painting
• Digital Art
• Photorealistic
• Anime
• Pixel Art

If you don’t want a stylized image, just set it to “No selection”.

Here’s our cat that’s walking in the woods in oil painting style.

That looks super cool, and the cat is adorable. Now let’s try changing the style to pixel art.

And here’s one in watercolor style.

Here’s another cool feature—layers! You can create multiple layers, duplicate, hide, and even merge them. Awesome!

Take note, though, that you need to be connected to the internet to continue using the Cocreator feature.

Is it safe?

Many users of Paint are children who simply want to doodle on their PC. So it’s very important that Microsoft put safeguards on the AI tool to avoid generating inappropriate images for kids.

Microsoft also emphasizes responsible AI use with Cocreator by implementing content filtering to prevent harmful or inappropriate images. Users are reminded to engage with Cocreator respectfully and lawfully, respecting others’ rights and privacy.

A few things to keep in mind

• On signup, you will receive 50 image generation credits (it’s not unlimited, sorry)
• Only the English language is supported at this time
• Cocreator is available only in the following regions: the United States, France, UK, Australia, Canada, Italy and Germany
• Paint Cocreator uses an online Azure service to generate images
• Microsoft does not store the images you generate

Final Thoughts

The addition of AI to the classic Paint app with the new Cocreator feature may raise some eyebrows, especially for long-time avid fans of the original. But since this capability is not yet publicly rolled out and is only available on a limited preview basis, Microsoft can still make changes and potentially axe the feature if initial user feedback is highly negative.

For me personally, Cocreator seems like an exciting evolution of the Paint app, and I’m eager to experiment with it more. Also, it will be critical for Microsoft to implement thoughtful safeguards to prevent misuse, especially since many young children use Paint.

Cocreator looks like it could be a lot of fun! But only time will tell if this new feature becomes a permanent part of Paint or just a short-lived experiment.

What do you think of Paint Cocreator? Do you like this idea? Let me know your thoughts.

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