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Large Language ModelsImage GenerationAI Business & IndustryVentureBeat AIPublished: Apr 15, 2026, 01:00 JST1 min read

Microsoft cuts AI image generation costs by 41% with faster MAI-Image-2-Efficient model, signaling independence from OpenAI

3 Key Points

  1. MAI-Image-2-Efficient priced at $5 per million text tokens and $19.50 per million image tokens, down 41% from the original MAI-Image-2 pricing

  2. New model runs 22% faster and delivers 4x greater throughput efficiency per GPU on NVIDIA H100 hardware compared to flagship version

  3. Available immediately in Microsoft Foundry and MAI Playground with no waitlist, marking the fastest release yet from Microsoft's AI superintelligence team

  4. Microsoft claims the model outperforms competing solutions like Google's Gemini 3.1 Fl, demonstrating commitment to building a self-sufficient AI stack

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