The University of Surrey's People-Centred Artificial Intelligence Institute has unveiled NitroFusion, a groundbreaking AI model that facilitates near-instant image creation on consumer-grade hardware. This technological advancement, developed by the SketchX Lab within the Institute, represents a significant leap forward in democratizing access to AI-driven creativity.
NitroFusion's open-source availability marks a transformative step in making AI accessible to creative professionals, eliminating the necessity for large, costly computational resources typically required by similar technologies. Professor Yi-Zhe Song, Co-Director of the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI, highlights how this development empowers individual creators and small studios to achieve rapid artistic iterations and increased control over imagery.
"Typically, similar technology is available only to corporate giants with vast computing resources. However, NitroFusion runs on a single consumer-grade graphics card – marking a decisive step forward in bringing advanced AI capabilities to individual creators, small studios, and educational institutions." – Prof. Yi-Zhe Song
NitroFusion employs a novel dynamic adversarial framework, analogous to a panel of specialized art critics, ensuring high-quality output in a single step. Users can adjust the balance between speed and image quality by selecting between one to four refinement steps, offering unparalleled flexibility.
"With NitroFusion, we're not just releasing another image generation model – we're pioneering an entirely new approach which democratizes AI interaction." – Dar-Yen Chen, PhD Researcher
The release of NitroFusion accompanies a broader mission of democratizing AI tools, evident in last year's DemoFusion that upscaled AI-generated images. This approach aligns with the Institute's vision of inclusive and sustainable AI solutions, as emphasized by Professor Song.
"This breakthrough delivers multiple leaps for users and industry: instant image generation, improved sustainability with reduced energy consumption, and the elimination of cloud dependencies and fees. Our Institute will continue to develop open-source, groundbreaking technologies." – Prof. Yi-Zhe Song
NitroFusion is available globally with accessible documentation and community support. It underscores the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI's dedication to placing individuals and society at the forefront of AI innovation. This people-centered ethos drives their research, marrying AI technology with real-world needs.
"We're particularly proud of the great work done by our SketchX Lab, advancing the science of generative AI and ensuring that its future is inclusive, responsible, and accessible." – Prof. Adrian Hilton
For detailed insights into NitroFusion, visit here. Additionally, the underlying technology is documented in a paper available on Arxiv.
Driven by a commitment to ethical and inclusive AI, the Surrey Institute focuses on integrating technology with diverse domain expertise. This cross-disciplinary approach positions the Institute as a leader in addressing societal challenges through collaborative AI solutions.
Part of the Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing, SketchX is a forefront research group led by Prof. Yi-Zhe Song. Their work continuously pushes the boundaries of AI's applicability in creative domains.
For media inquiries, the University of Surrey's communications team can be contacted at mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk.
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