The Big Picture of Generative AI
"Generative AI" spans many areas—image, video, text, audio, 3D. Before starting as a creator, organize what kinds exist and what each is good at.
5 Main Categories
1. Text Generation
- Main: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini
- Uses: articles, novels, scenarios, social, copy
- Can start sufficiently for free
2. Image Generation
- Main tools: Midjourney, ChatGPT's built-in image generation (now powered by GPT Image 2), Stable Diffusion, and FLUX
- Uses: illustration, photo-style, concept art, manga
- Mostly paid (pricing/plan names change often—check each official site)
3. Video Generation
- Main: Google Veo, Runway, Kling. OpenAI shut the consumer Sora app and website down on April 26, 2026, and its developer API is scheduled to stop on September 24, 2026, so anyone still building on it has to migrate
- Uses: ads, social video, prototypes, visual expression
- Pricier, longer generation time
4. Audio/Music Generation
- Main: Suno, Udio (music), ElevenLabs (speech synthesis)
- Uses: BGM, narration, voice-actor substitute
- Confirm commercial use
5. 3D/Special
- Main: Meshy, Luma AI, Tripo
- Uses: 3D models, Unity / Blender integration
- Still experimental, evolving rapidly
Positioning for Creators
| Conventional workflow | After AI integration |
|---|---|
| Ideating from blank | Brainstorm/draft with AI |
| Make assets one by one | 10 variations with AI → choose |
| Deadline-driven mass production | Compress time with AI, humans focus on finishing |
| Asset cost (stock photos etc.) | Generate with AI as needed |
3 Things to Pin Down Before Starting
1. Copyright/Commercial Use
Rights of output and training-data issues are detailed in the next article "Copyright Guide." Free-plan output may be commercial-NG in some cases.
2. Tool Combination
Using multiple AIs for one work is common:
- Scenario in ChatGPT → background in Midjourney → BGM in Suno → video with Runway
3. Keep "Your Own Hand"
AI 80% + human 20% shows more originality than AI 100%. Humans judge the finished form.
Where to Start
- Text-mainly: ChatGPT / Claude
- Illustration/photo-mainly: Midjourney
- Video-mainly: Runway
- Music-mainly: Suno
Next Step
The next article "How to Choose Generative AI" details the judgment axes for picking tools that fit your genre.
