Midjourney: From Taoism to Tech, via AI

In the bustling AI landscape, dominated by behemoths like OpenAI and Google, Midjourney has carved a surprisingly visible niche. They generate images. Good ones, apparently. But beyond the pixels, a question lingers: where did that name come from?

Not What You Expect

“Midjourney” doesn’t exactly scream “artificial intelligence.” It’s devoid of algorithmic buzzwords, avoids any “image-” prefixes, and sounds more like a prog-rock album title. So, what’s the story?

The Zhuangzi Connection

According to Midjourney’s founder, David Holz, the name originates from an ancient Taoist text, specifically the Zhuangzi. In an interview, Holz explained his affinity for the term, emphasizing the importance of remembering the past while acknowledging an uncertain future. He stated in an X post that it is easy to forget the past and feel lost, but that we are “mid-journey”.

The Zhuangzi, attributed to the philosopher Zhuang Zhou (c. 369 – 286 BCE), is a cornerstone of Daoist philosophy. It’s known for its anecdotes, parables, and exploration of themes like spontaneity, freedom, and the limitations of human understanding. The Zhuangzi uses stories to help emphasize the core ideas of Taoism.

Why This Matters (Maybe)

So, Midjourney is named after a Taoist text, and Holz finds it important to remember the past when building the future. Does this affect the image generation quality? Unlikely. Does it inform Midjourney’s overall approach to AI development? That’s harder to say. It could be a simple quirk of the founder’s interests, or it could represent a deeper philosophical underpinning to the company’s vision.

Speculation and the Void

Of course, the internet is rife with speculation about the real reasons behind the name. Some whisper of hidden algorithms coded with Taoist principles. Others suggest it’s a marketing ploy to appear more “spiritual” than the competition. There’s always talk about how AI development will lead to a real issue.

While such theories are entertaining, the simplest explanation is often the most accurate. Holz liked the phrase “mid-journey,” and it stuck. The name itself is more about inspiring its employees than it is about the technology itself.

The Journey Continues

Ultimately, the story of Midjourney’s name is a reminder that even in the hyper-modern world of AI, inspiration can come from unexpected places. Whether it’s a genuine philosophical alignment or a simple fondness for a phrase, the name serves as a unique identifier in an increasingly crowded field. What that name actually means is up to you to decide.

Midjourney, the company, continues its mid-journey, generating images and sparking conversations. And somewhere, Zhuang Zhou is probably smiling, or maybe just dreaming he’s a butterfly. Either way, he’s probably indifferent to the debate over image generation.