Crafting an AI-powered art studio

The challenge

To showcase Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing service, we worked with onepointfive agency to build a generative AI-powered interactive Art Studio that created unique, personalised artworks built around question and answer prompts from the user.

For the first phase, the AI asked users a series of questions, before they submitted a selfie via an interactive touchscreen, which would be used as the basis to create a brand new original image.

The process

For the second phase, we refined it further – using Dall-e on Azure to simply ask the user questions and build the art from key words within their responses, with a QR code leading them to a website to download the final image. Our challenge was to ensure the AI was trained to only use certain types of art within the image generation, so Microsoft had complete trust in what it would create.

We developed the software and set tight parameters to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience, while enabling GDPR-compliant live image distribution of genuinely good, impressive modern art with zero personal data stored. To showcase the capabilities of Microsoft’s Power BI data visualisation programme, the Art Studio sent data to a neighbouring screen where Power BI visualised data in real time.

The outcome

Initially shown at Big Data, before being taken on an event roadshow that culminated at Microsoft Ignite, the AI Art Studio showcased the capabilities of Azure and drew repeat visits to the stand (with one attendee returning seven times in one day!).

Please note this project was completed by members of our team for We Are Immersive Ltd (WAI). The case-study here is produced with permission from the WAI board.