Tencent launches Hy Image 3.5 Preview, saying that during internal testing the AI image model achieved results on par with ByteDance's Seedream 5.0 Pro

AI image generation costs drop to $0.024 per image, making high-resolution outputs more accessible.

Tencent has launched a preview of its Hy Image 3.5 AI model, an update to its Hunyuan generation API. The new version, released on September 22nd, introduces conversational image editing and the ability to use reference images. Tencent claims that during internal testing, Hy Image 3.5 achieved results comparable to ByteDance's Seedream 5.0 Pro. The model supports both text-to-image and image-to-image generation, producing outputs up to 2K resolution. The pricing for image generation is set at $0.024 per image.

This release intensifies the competition in the AI image generation market, particularly between major Chinese tech players like Tencent and ByteDance. By claiming parity with Seedream 5.0 Pro, Tencent signals its commitment to challenging established models and potentially driving further innovation in image quality and editing capabilities. The introduction of conversational editing and reference image input suggests a move towards more intuitive and user-friendly AI image creation tools.

The pricing of $0.024 per image sets a new benchmark for cost-effectiveness in the industry. This lower price point could democratize access to advanced AI image generation for smaller businesses and individual creators. It also puts pressure on other AI model providers to reduce their own pricing structures, potentially leading to a broader market shift towards more affordable, high-quality AI image solutions for a wider range of applications.