Best Tools and Platforms for Creating AI NFTs: Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to the future of digital artistry!

Since the advent of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT), we've seen how it mounted a serious challenge to physical art collections and museums. With artificial intelligence (AI), it was only a matter of time that it crept into the creation process itself—it is now possible for anyone with nary an eye for brushstrokes and layers to generate an abstract work of art from a few simple prompts.

For you aspiring artists, tech enthusiasts, or enterprising Web3 traders who want to get started on your digital art journey, but haven't had a clue on how to start, we've shortlisted the best tools to generate digital NFT art in accordance to your specific concepts—together with a step-by-step guide on how to mint.

(Read our guide on blockchain AI tools if you're looking to BUIDL more than just NFTs.)

Why Create AI NFTs? Exploring the Benefits and Opportunities

Copycats are the bane of any artist's existence. The good news is that AI algorithms can produce original pieces that are difficult to replicate, ensuring each NFT is one-of-a-kind. This exclusivity can significantly boost the value of the digital asset.

Additionally, AI can aid in the creation of more complex and dynamic NFTs. For example, AI can generate constantly evolving art, interactive content, or even virtual beings that learn and adapt over time. These innovations contribute to a richer, more engaging digital experience for NFT collectors and users.

Furthermore, AI NFTs can include programmable features, offering functionality beyond mere ownership. These features can incorporate smart contracts, ensuring automatic royalty payments to creators upon resale, enhancing the continuous revenue stream potential for original NFT artists.

That said, AI doesn't just help with the creation process. It can also help in the curation and discovery of NFTs. Using machine learning algorithms, platforms can recommend AI NFTs to potential buyers based on their preferences and past purchases. This not only benefits users by providing a personalised shopping experience, but also increases visibility for creators.

Top AI Art Generation Tools and Platforms

1. DALL-E 2

Developed by OpenAI, DALL-E 2 is a powerful tool that generates highly detailed images from textual descriptions. It's great for both beginners and advanced users looking for creative flexibility.  

What's good about DALL-E 2:

• Understands complex and abstract prompts: DALL-E 2's ability to accurately interpret intricate and imaginative prompts is a standout feature, making it excellent for creating unique digital art pieces
• Variations in style and composition: This tool allows for a wide range of visual outputs from a single descriptive input, offering flexibility in your creative process
• Coherence and attention to detail: Whether generating fantastical scenes or realistic portraits, DALL-E 2 ensures images are visually coherent and rich in detail, suitable for high-quality NFT creations
• Supports iterative refinement: You can continually tweak and refine your inputs to achieve the exact image you envision

2. Artbreeder

This platform allows you to create new artwork by blending existing images. With its easy-to-use interface, artists can mix and match different artworks to generate unique, AI-driven images.

What's good about Artbreeder:

• Collaborative nature: You don't just create in isolation; you can build upon and remix others' work. This feature fosters a community of NFT artists who continuously evolve their creations together.
• Genetic algorithms: The platform uses a genetic model to allow users to 'breed' new images by combining multiple images to create entirely new artworks. This leverages the tool's advanced AI capabilities, making each creation feel like a living piece of art.
• Intuitive sliders: These sliders let you adjust specific attributes of an image like facial expressions, art styles, and colors, giving you fine-tuned control over the final outcome. It's like having a virtual artist's palette right at your fingertips.
• High-resolution image exports: Artbreeder supports high-resolution image exports, making it easy to create professional-quality art suitable for printing or digital showcases.

Whether you aim to mint NFTs or just enjoy creating, Artbreeder provides the tools to turn your visions into reality.

3. DeepDream Generator

DeepDream Generator is one of the most exciting tools available for creating AI NFTs, primarily due to its ability to transform ordinary images into dream-like, surreal works of art. Initially developed by Google's AI researchers, DeepDream uses convolutional neural networks to enhance and modify images in unexpected ways. This not only elevates your NFT's aesthetic appeal but also taps into a unique artistic style that's emblematic of AI creativity.

What's good about DeepDream Generator:

• User-friendly interface: You don't need to be a tech wizard to navigate its functionalities, allowing both beginners and seasoned artists to create mesmerising digital art effortlessly
• Build on existing works: You're given the liberty to upload your own images, or choose from a library of sample artworks, and then apply different layers of transformation to bring out distinct visual motifs like swirls, dream-like patterns, and vibrant colors
• High levels of customsation: Users can fine-tune parameters like the level of abstraction or the type of neural network layers applied to the image. This degree of control ensures that each piece you generate is unique, adding an intrinsic value to your NFT.
• Strength in numbers: There's a community feature that lets you share your creations and garner feedback, providing endless inspiration and valuable insights

Marrying cutting-edge technology with artistic freedom, DeepDream Generator opens up a world of possibilities for creating standout AI NFTs.

4. NightCafe Creator

NightCafe Creator stands out as a versatile tool in the AI NFT space, thanks to its user-friendly interface and powerful algorithms. This platform allows artists to effortlessly transform text prompts into stunning pieces of AI-generated NFT art.

What's good about NightCafe Creator:

• Easy-to-use: With an intuitive design, even those new to AI art can navigate and create masterpieces with ease
• Multiple styles: Users can choose from various artistic styles such as surreal, abstract, and more, offering a wide range of creative possibilities
• Customisation: The platform provides numerous options for adjusting the parameters of the AI, ensuring that each piece is unique and tailored to the artist's vision
• High-resolution outputs: NightCafe enables the creation of high-resolution images, ideal for minting as NFTs
• Community and collaboration: It boasts a rich community of artists where you can share your works, get feedback, and draw inspiration from others

5. RunwayML

RunwayML stands out as a top choice for crafting AI NFT art effortlessly. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, it empowers creators to produce stunning digital artwork with remarkable ease and efficiency.

What's good about RunwayML:

• User-friendly interface: Requires minimal coding knowledge, allowing you to focus on creativity rather than technical complexities
• Wide variety of pre-trained models: Generate high-quality, unique pieces of art efficiently, with models that can be fine-tuned to your aesthetic preferences
• Collaborative ecosystem: Integrates seamlessly with software like Adobe Photoshop, enabling a smooth transition between traditional and AI-assisted art creation
• Cloud-based capabilities: Utilises powerful computational resources without needing high-end hardware, thus expanding your creative possibilities

6. Wombo Dream

Wombo Dream is a standout tool in the AI NFT space, known for its unique ability to generate captivating artworks from simple text prompts.

Imagine typing a phrase like 'a futuristic city skyline at sunset' and watching as Wombo Dream brings that vision to life with vibrant colors and imaginative details. The ease of turning words into richly detailed images makes it an excellent platform for artists, writers, and creators with a penchant for storytelling.

What's good about Wombo Dream:

• Write your art out: Wombo Dream simplifies the process of creating art out of words, especially for those who are more linguist than designer
• Style and output versatility: Wide range of artistic styles and filters to choose from. Art generation capabilities are not limited to static images, it can create dynamic and evolving artworks that are also of high-resolution.
• Instant feedback: Real-time AI rendering for immediate results
• Mobile friendly: Fully functional mobile app for on-the-go creativity
• Community sharing: Built-in platform to share your creations with a vibrant NFT community

Step-by-Step Guide to Minting Your AI NFT

Minting an AI NFT might sound complex, but by following this step-by-step guide, you'll be able to break it down into manageable tasks. Here's how to get started:

1. Create AI NFT with AI generation tool: Experiment with the tool to generate an output that you feel excited about. After you've decided on one (based on our tips above), proceed to create your first draft.
2. Polish your creation: Once you have your AI-generated asset, you may want to refine it using image editing software like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP. This step can help enhance the appeal and uniqueness of your NFT.
3. Choose an NFT marketplace: Decide on a platform where you'll mint and list your AI NFT for sale. Notable platforms include OpenSea, Rarible, and Foundation. Create an account on your chosen marketplace if you don't already have one.
4. Create and fund your digital wallet: You'll need a Web3 digital wallet to pay for transaction fees and receive payments. Popular choices include MetaMask, Trust Wallet, MathWallet. After choosing one, fund your wallet with cryptocurrency (typically Ethereum). It's used to cover minting and listing fees on the NFT marketplace.
5. Upload and mint AI NFT: Head to your chosen NFT marketplace and look for the option to create or mint a new NFT. Upload your AI-generated file and provide a detailed description. Fill in the metadata fields such as name, description, and properties to give it vivid details.
6. Set price, list for sale: Decide whether you'll auction your NFT or sell it at a fixed price. Set your desired price and list it for sale on the marketplace. Don't forget to promote your creation through social media (i.e. X, Telegram, Discord) or other online platforms to attract potential buyers.

Legal and Ethical Considerations When Creating AI NFTs

When venturing into the world of AI NFTs, it's crucial to navigate the legal and ethical landscape carefully. While creating and selling AI-generated art can be thrilling, there are several key considerations you need to keep in mind to avoid potential pitfalls.

• Intellectual property rights: Typically, IP rights for AI-generated content belong to the person or entity that operates the AI tool, but it's not always clear-cut. Before you start minting, review the terms and conditions of the AI platform you’re using to ensure you have the right to sell the generated art as NFTs.
• Attribution and originality: Ensure that your creations are sufficiently original and do not infringe on any existing works. Some AI tools might have a database of pre-existing artworks that they pull from, potentially creating derivative works. Misrepresenting AI-created art as entirely original can lead to legal challenges and loss of credibility in the community.
• Data privacy concerns: AI tools often require access to large datasets to generate art. Ensure that any data you use or upload complies with privacy laws.
• Environmental impact: The process of minting NFTs and running AI models can be resource-intensive, contributing to carbon emissions. Consider ways to mitigate your environmental footprint, such as opting for blockchains that use proof-of-stake (PoS) instead of proof-of-work (PoW).
• Bias and fairness: AI algorithms can sometimes harbor biases based on the data they were trained on. It's important to actively monitor and correct any bias that might appear in your AI-generated works.

In Closing

AI NFTs are a fascinating intersection of technology and artistry. They might just be the modern day renaissance to revive the trend of digital art collections.

As you venture into creating your own AI NFTs, it promises to be an exhilarating experience as AI NFT tools and platforms on offer today can turn anyone into an instant Picasso — one who can potentially get a side income out of it, at that. However, it's crucial to keep in mind the ethical implications and responsibilities that come with it. By harnessing the power of AI thoughtfully and responsibly, you have the chance to contribute to a burgeoning field that could reshape the future of art and technology.

So, what will your first AI NFT creation be?

Since early 2024, aelf (layer 1 AI blockchain) has partnered with key AI outfits such as AgentLayer and ChainGPT to accelerate AI adoption in the blockchain space. ChainGPT, known for its advanced Web3 LLM innovations, has helped train an AI chatbot to be built into aelf's digital platforms; in the later phase of the ChainGPT x aelf partnership, an AI NFT generator will be integrated, allowing artists to easily bulk-produce desired works of art just by entering text prompts.

Project Schrodinger, an AI NFT platform built on aelf's ecosystem, proves to be a fun way to ease into the AI NFT scene. In the game, users make use of $SGR tokens to adopt unique cat NFTs. Each cat's traits and design are unique and determined by the AI algorithm. The rarer the cat, the more attractive the profits when users eventually sell it.

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*Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other form of professional advice. aelf makes no guarantees or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information on this blog. You should not make any investment decisions based solely on the information provided on this blog. You should always consult with a qualified financial or legal advisor before making any investment decisions.

About aelf

aelf, an AI-enhanced Layer 1 blockchain network, leverages the robust C# programming language for efficiency and scalability across its sophisticated multi-layered architecture. Founded in 2017 with its global hub in Singapore, aelf is a pioneer in the industry, leading Asia in evolving blockchain with state-of-the-art AI integration and modular Layer 2 ZK Rollup technology, ensuring an efficient, low-cost, and highly secure platform that is both developer and end-user friendly. Aligned with its progressive vision, aelf is committed to fostering innovation within its ecosystem and advancing Web3 and AI technology adoption.

For more information about aelf, please refer to our Whitepaper V2.0.

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