The AI map · Making media

Images

Makes a picture from a description, or edits a photo you already have by telling it what to change. The ones that lead it as of 29 October 2026.

  1. Nano Banana 2.1 New since July

    Google

    Fast image generation and conversational editing in the Gemini app, with sharp text in images and the same character kept across edits.

    Pick it you edit by conversation, need legible text in the image, or want it free inside Gemini and Google's apps.

    Price The Gemini app has a free plan; Google AI plans from $4.99 a month

    Source: ai.google.dev

  2. ChatGPT Images 2.5 (GPT-Image-2.5) New since July

    OpenAI

    Making and editing images inside ChatGPT, with templates, sketch-to-image and comments on mobile.

    Pick it you already work in ChatGPT and want images in the same conversation.

    Price Free with limited image creation; Go $8 a month, Plus $20 a month

    Source: help.openai.com

  3. Midjourney V8.2 New since July

    Midjourney

    Images with a strong, considered look, tuned to your taste through Personalization.

    Pick it aesthetics matter more than literal accuracy: mood boards, campaign looks, concept art.

    Price From $10 a month (Basic)

    Source: docs.midjourney.com

  4. Ideogram 4.5

    Ideogram

    Images with words in them: posters, banners, logos, and transparent-background designs for print.

    Pick it the text inside the image has to be right, or you need a transparent background.

    Price Free plan; paid plan prices not confirmed

    Source: docs.ideogram.ai

  5. FLUX New since July

    Black Forest Labs

    Image models for developers, through an API, including open-weight models you can run yourself (FLUX 3 Image Klein).

    Pick it you are building a product and want an image model you can host or fine-tune.

    Source: bfl.ai

  6. Adobe Firefly

    Adobe

    Images and vectors trained on licensed content, wired into Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere, with Google and OpenAI models on the same credits.

    Pick it you need outputs that are safe for commercial use, or you already work in Adobe apps.

    Price Free plan with limited daily generations; Standard $9.99 a month

    Source: adobe.com

  7. Canva

    Canva

    Designs for social posts, decks and ads, with AI tools (resize, translate, remove background) built into the editor.

    Pick it you want a finished design, not just an image, and you do not design for a living.

    Price Free plan; Pro US$144 a year

    Source: canva.com

What changed

  1. 6 Oct 2026 Google released Nano Banana 2.1, an update to Nano Banana 2 with better text rendering and character consistency, and deprecated Nano Banana 2. ai.google.dev
  2. 8 Sep 2026 OpenAI launched ChatGPT Images 2.5, with sharper detail, more precise edits, faster generation and templates. help.openai.com
  3. 30 Aug 2026 OpenAI retired the official DALL·E GPT in ChatGPT; images are now made with ChatGPT Images. help.openai.com
  4. 17 Aug 2026 Google shut down its Imagen 4 models in the Gemini API; Nano Banana models replace them. ai.google.dev
  5. 24 Jul 2026 Midjourney made V8.2 its default model, with a new Edit Model replacing Omni Reference, Character Reference and Retexture. docs.midjourney.com

Questions people ask about it

Video, Image & Audio

  1. How are founders making product demos, ads, and social video with AI (Veo, Runway, Kling, HeyGen, ElevenLabs)?
  2. Why can a solo founder now do what needed an agency?
  3. What's the realistic quality bar, what works and what still looks fake?
  4. Which AI video tool should I actually use, and for what job?
  5. How are founders using AI avatars and UGC-style actors instead of hiring creators?
  6. How are founders using AI voice, music, and audio (ElevenLabs, Suno, Gemini Notebook)?

Content Creation

  1. Why use AI for blogs, newsletters, and social posts, and how do I avoid sounding like AI?
  2. How do top founders build content engines with AI (repurposing one idea into ten formats)?
  3. How do I train AI to write in my voice?
  4. Which AI tools should be in my content stack, and where do I start?
  5. How do I build my personal brand on LinkedIn with AI without being cringe?
  6. Will Google or ChatGPT punish my AI content, and how do I do SEO and AEO now?

The rest of the map

Checked 29 October 2026. Prices and rankings move every few months; each tool links the page its claims were read from.

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