What started as a passion project has blossomed into something far beyond our wildest dreams. As we celebrate Civitai's second birthday, I find myself in awe of not just how far we've come, but how this community continues to push the boundaries of what's possible. From text and detail (including hands) generation breakthroughs to the birth of new creative programs, this year has been nothing short of revolutionary.
A Year of Exponential Growth
When we celebrated our first birthday, we were amazed by the millions who had joined our community. This year, the growth hasn't just been in numbers—it's been in engagement, creation, and innovation. Our community hasn't just grown; it's flourished in ways we never imagined possible.
The numbers tell an incredible story:
Reactions up 11x, showing how engaged and supportive our community has become
Active creators up 4x, bringing fresh perspectives and innovations
Models published up 3x, expanding the creative possibilities
Models trained up 6x, demonstrating the power of making AI model creation more accessible
Content posted up 10x, filling our feeds with more inspiration than ever
But perhaps the most exciting development has been the community's embrace of text generation. With the introduction of models like Flux and SD 3, Civitai has evolved into a space where both visual and textual creativity thrive side by side.
Launching Bold New Initiatives
This year marked the beginning of several ambitious programs that are reshaping the AI creative landscape:
Open Model Initiative
We're proud to have joined forces with partners across the industry to create truly open-source foundational models. This collaboration represents our commitment to keeping AI innovation accessible to all.
Project Odyssey
The launch of Project Odyssey stands as a testament to how far AI video creation has come. This "Olympics of AI video creation" has brought together sponsors from across the generative AI space, showcasing the incredible potential of this technology.
Community Live Streams
We've expanded our reach through live-streamed Office Hours, Guest Creator Streams across Twitch, X, and LinkedIn, and our growing YouTube presence. These initiatives have created new ways for our community to learn, share, and grow together.
Artist in Residence (AiR) Program
By bringing together AI technicians and traditional artists, we're exploring the fascinating intersection of classical artistry and AI innovation. This program is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in this new medium.
Building a Sustainable Future
Earlier this year, we worked with our community to establish a path to sustainability. While we're still following this path, we've made significant strides:
Paid Generation: It might be hard to believe, but generation on Civitai cost 0 Buzz until April of this year. This change helps ensure we can continue providing high-quality services.
Creator Economy: With the launch of the Creators Compensation program, our new 25% revenue share model, creators earn Buzz for models that people use in our generation service. We're also ramping things up to expand our program that allows creators to Bank Buzz and get paid real money for the Buzz they've collected.
Early Access: Established creators can now offer early access to their models for a small Buzz fee, providing a new way to be rewarded for their innovations.
Cosmetics: Our 31 Days of Halloween cosmetics brought in more Buzz than the previous four months combined! Creator cosmetics have opened up even more earning opportunities.
Looking to Tomorrow
The future of Civitai is bright, and we're just getting started:
Video Innovation: Get ready—we're diving deep into video generation, with exciting developments on the horizon.
Smarter Discovery: We're building personalized feeds to help you find exactly what inspires you.
Accessibility First: We're working to make it easier than ever for newcomers to become valuable members of the Civitai community.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Here's something remarkable: to date, we've done zero paid marketing. Every new member, every shared creation, every bit of growth has been organic—spread through word of mouth by passionate community members like you. That's the power of building something truly valuable for the community.
As we blow out the candles on our second birthday cake, we're filled with gratitude for every creator, every user, and every person who's helped spread the word about Civitai. You've turned this platform into more than just a website—you've made it a home for AI creativity.
To celebrate, we’re making this week extra special! Head over to the cosmetic shop and explore our exclusive birthday collection. Whether you want to sprinkle some confetti magic on your avatar frame or party alongside the dancing CivBot—now's the perfect time to join the fun and celebrate during our birthday week.
Here's to another year of pushing boundaries, supporting creators, and building the future of AI creativity together. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.