Black Forest Labs Unveils New AI Image Editing Models
Black Forest Labs, the AI startup behind X's Grok chatbot image generation, has launched a new suite of AI image models called Flux.1 Kontext. These models can both create and edit images, marking a significant advancement in AI image manipulation.
The most powerful model, Flux.1 Kontext, uses text prompts and optional reference images to generate new visuals. According to the company's blog post, these models offer "state-of-the-art image generation results with strong prompt following, photorealistic rendering, and competitive typography" at speeds up to eight times faster than current leading models.
Two Models for Different Needs
The Flux.1 Kontext family includes two models: Flux.1 Kontext [pro] and Flux.1 Kontext [max]. The pro version allows for iterative image refinement while preserving character and style consistency. The max version prioritizes speed, consistency, and accurate prompt adherence.
This release comes amidst increasing competition in the AI image generation space, with recent advancements from Google's Imagen 4 and OpenAI's updated ChatGPT image generator.
Today we're releasing FLUX.1 Kontext — a suite of generative flow matching models that allow you to generate and edit images. Unlike traditional text-to-image models, Kontext understands both text AND images as input, enabling true in-context generation and editing. pic.twitter.com/zleJGuXDge
— Black Forest Labs (@bfl_ml) May 29, 2025
Hello FLUX.1 Kontext! Kontext is a new state-of-the-art image editing model from Black Forest Labs. It's live now on Replicate. You can edit images with words: Change clothes, restyle scenes, rewrite text, all from a prompt. It just works 😉 Pro and Max: pic.twitter.com/e5URxFewki
— Replicate (@replicate) May 29, 2025
Accessibility and Availability
Unlike previous models, Flux.1 Kontext [pro] and [max] are not available for offline download. However, a development version, Flux.1 Kontext [dev], is in private beta for research and safety testing. Black Forest Labs also launched a model playground with free credits for users to experiment with the models without third-party service sign-ups.
The German-based company, backed by investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Y Combinator's Garry Tan, has been actively developing AI image generation models and enterprise services, including a recently released API. This follows reports of a potential $100 million funding round at a $1 billion valuation.
