Meta strikes licensing deal with Midjourney to boost AI image and video tools

The deal coincides with a surge in competition in generative models and billion-dollar investments in AI

by e4m Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2025 12:03 PM | 1 min read

Alexandr Wang, the chief AI officer at Meta, announced in a post on Threads on Friday that the company has partnered with Midjourney to license the startup's AI picture and video production technology. Under the agreement, Midjourney's skills will be closely integrated into future AI models and products by Meta's research teams.

“To ensure Meta is able to deliver the best possible products for people it will require taking an all-of-the-above approach,” Wag said. “This means world-class talent, ambitious computer roadmap, working with the best players across the country.”

The change puts Meta in a more direct competitive position against Google's Veo, Black Forest Lab's Flux, and OpenAI's Sora. Together with Movie Gen, its AI video tool, Meta has already integrated Imagine, its AI picture creator, into Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

The Midjourney collaboration comes after Meta made a strong push in AI this year, investing $14 billion in Scale AI, acquiring voice firm Play AI, and offering top academics billions of dollars in pay. Although its negotiations to purchase Midjourney did not succeed, the company has also looked into joint ventures and acquisitions with a number of AI labs.

Since its founding in 2022, Midjourney has emerged as a pioneer in AI-generated images, renowned for its realistic, creative aesthetic. According to reports, it was expected to make $200 million by 2023, all the while continuing to operate independently and without outside funding.