Microsoft · MAI Image line · image
MAI-Image-2.6 was released by Microsoft on August 18, 2026, as an image model in the MAI Image line.
Microsoft's updated image model scores 46 Elo points above MAI-Image-2.5 in Artificial Analysis blind comparisons and costs about a fifth less per image; it is in Public Preview on Microsoft Foundry.
Compared with MAI-Image-2.5 · the model it replaces
Scores higher than MAI-Image-2.5 in blind image comparisons
Artificial Analysis Text to Image Arena — people pick the better image without knowing the model
1148
▲ up from 1102 · +46 Elo · #5 on Artificial Analysis, Sep 2026
Costs about a fifth less per image than the model it replaces
Price per 1,000 images — hosted API price tracked by Artificial Analysis
$38.90
▲ down from $48.10 for MAI-Image-2.5 · 19% cheaper
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MAI-Image-2.6-Flash is the current model in this line. The card shows how long it has been since the last release against the line's usual gap and its recent ones — the rhythm, not a date.
Latest: MAI-Image-2.6-Flash · Sep 4, 2026
Newest first. See the full line with every card →