Stable Diffusion is open-source AI image generator (August 2022) that, unlike Midjourney/DALL-E, could run locally and had fewer content restrictions. This led to both creative freedom and concerning uses (deepfakes, NSFW content, copyrighted character generation). Its open nature accelerated AI art development but also highlighted governance challenges when powerful technology is freely available.
Sources: Stable Diffusion Release Documentation, Open Source AI Studies
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