Microsoft's MAI-Image-2.6 and MAI-Image-2.6-Flash are available on Vercel's AI Gateway. Developers can generate images from text or edit existing ones through the AI SDK or the AI CLI, using one API key and no provider account.

Both models support photorealistic imagery, text rendering, and targeted edits to products, portraits, and layouts. Developers can provide up to five reference images to guide edits or combine subjects, and output sizes go up to 1536 × 1536.

The two models are meant for different stages of work. MAI-Image-2.6 (microsoft/mai-image-2.6) is for final assets, when image quality matters more than speed. MAI-Image-2.6-Flash (microsoft/mai-image-2.6-flash) generates faster at a lower cost, which suits workflows that need many iterations, such as exploring prompts or generating variations.

Both use the same model ID format. To generate an image, the article calls generateImage from the ai package with a model ID such as microsoft/mai-image-2.6, a text prompt, and a 1024x1024 size, then writes the output to image.png. The example prompt describes “a blue ceramic vase with wildflowers on a sunlit wooden table.” To edit, the existing image is passed as input alongside an instruction. The article's example asks the model to change the vase to terracotta while keeping the flowers and setting, and saves the result to edited-image.png.

Key Features at a Glance

• Photorealistic imagery: Both models produce realistic images, which suits product and portrait work.
• Text rendering: Both models support rendering text within images.
• Targeted edits: Both support edits to products, portraits, and layouts, driven by an instruction that can change one element while keeping the rest.
• Reference images: Up to five reference images guide edits or combine subjects.
• Output size: Up to 1536 × 1536 pixels.
• Single API key: One key covers access, with no separate provider account required.
• Two model tiers: MAI-Image-2.6 for quality-critical final assets, and Flash for faster, lower-cost iteration.

Availability

Both models are available through Vercel AI Gateway, with access via the AI SDK, the AI CLI, and the model playground at vercel.com. The article gives no launch date or pricing figures. Flash is described only as lower cost than the standard model. The image generation guide is linked from the article for full usage details.