I was among the very first users to join the Midjourney public beta in mid 2022. Much has changed since version 3 was made available by invitation only. The prompting language has become more robust and sophisticated, and the images have become more detailed and realistic. Still, since this very first experiment, I remain convinced that some of the most interesting explorations emerge from testing the generative engine's capacity to interpret brief and open prompts, which require it to engage in conceptual abstraction.

In this case, the prompt simply read "/imagine: Art Nouveau microchip". The idea was to grant the machine full-freedom to render its own inorganic and rigidly structured component in one of the most well-loved organic art styles.