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

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

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

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

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