Understanding Diffusion Models for Image Generation

Diffusion models have taken the world of AI image generation by storm, powering incredible tools like Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and DALL-E 3. But how do they work? This article provides a deep dive into the technology behind these models, explaining the core concepts in an accessible and intuitive way. We will break down the process of adding "noise" to an image and then training a model to reverse the process, gradually transforming a random collection of pixels into a coherent and detailed image. By the end of this read, you will have a solid understanding of the magic behind the curtain of modern image synthesis.