Midjourney, a generative AI platform, is set to release an upgraded web tool that allows users to edit uploaded images using its AI technology. The tool, slated for release "early next week," will enable users to retexture objects in images and "repaint" their colors and details according to captions. While this advancement holds promise, it also raises concerns about the potential misuse of AI-powered image editing, particularly in the context of deepfakes and copyright infringement.

The upgraded tool comes at a time when the tech industry is grappling with the ethics and implications of AI-generated content. Platforms like Meta and Google have already released AI features that blur the lines between edited and generated images, sparking debates on labeling and transparency. Midjourney, however, has committed to using the IPTC's Digital Source Type property, a technical standard that embeds metadata in images denoting AI-generated content.

Despite this commitment, the company's decision to restrict the tool's initial release to a "subset of the current community" and its reliance on human moderation and AI moderators to prevent abuse have sparked concerns about the potential risks of releasing such a powerful tool without adequate safeguards.

The implications of Midjourney's upgraded web tool extend beyond the tech community, with deepfakes spreading rapidly across social media and posing a significant threat to truth and disinformation. According to data from Clarity, a deepfake detection firm, 900% more deepfakes have been created and published this year compared to the same time frame last year.