The way we create with AI has changed dramatically. Not long ago, generating an image meant opening a browser, typing a prompt, and downloading the result. Today, you can generate images and videos from a web app, desktop app, command line, AI coding assistant, MCP server, or even a specialized Skill.

That’s great news, but it also makes choosing where to start a little more complicated.

The truth is, there isn’t a single “best” AI generation interface. The right choice depends on how you work. A designer exploring visual concepts has different needs than a developer building an automated workflow, and a marketing team collaborating on campaigns works differently from a solo creator producing content every day.

This guide breaks down the six main ways to use AI generation, who each one is designed for, and how to choose the workflow that fits you best. Whether you’re creating social content, product imagery, videos, or building AI-powered creative pipelines, you’ll know exactly where to begin by the end.

First, find your workflown

Before comparing tools, ask yourself a few simple questions.

  • Do you prefer visual interfaces or technical ones?
  • Are you generating a handful of assets or hundreds at a time?
  • Do you work inside design software, code editors, or your browser?
  • Do you want complete control over every setting, or do you want AI to handle the details?

Your answers matter more than the feature list. The best workflow is the one that lets you stay focused on creating instead of constantly switching between tools.

The six ways to generate AI content

Web app: the fastest way to start creating

For most people, the web app is the easiest place to begin. Open your browser, sign in, choose a model, write a prompt, and start generating. There’s nothing to install, configure, or maintain.

That simplicity makes it perfect for brainstorming, experimenting with different models, and collaborating with teammates. You can jump into a meeting, generate concepts together, and share ideas without worrying about software installations or device compatibility.

The web app is also ideal for creators who work across multiple devices. Whether you’re at your desk, traveling with a laptop, or using a shared computer, your workspace is always available.

It’s especially useful during the exploration phase. You can compare outputs from different models, refine prompts, edit images, remove backgrounds, upscale visuals, and even generate video – all from one creative workspace.

Best for:

  • First-time AI creators
  • Marketing teams
  • Designers exploring ideas
  • Remote collaboration
  • Anyone who wants zero setup

Desktop app: built for everyday creative work

If AI generation is already part of your daily routine, the desktop app offers a more focused creative experience.

Instead of working through a browser, everything feels faster and more connected to your computer. Managing local files is easier, keyboard shortcuts become second nature, and switching between generations feels more fluid during long creative sessions.

This is where many professional creators spend most of their time.

Whether you’re designing campaign assets, creating product visuals, or developing video concepts, the desktop app keeps the entire workflow in one place – from generation to editing to export.

Rather than thinking about the technology behind the models, you can stay focused on creative decisions.

Best for:

  • Designers
  • Content creators
  • Social media managers
  • Creative professionals
  • Daily AI users

CLI: automation starts here

Not every creative workflow starts with a visual interface. Sometimes, the fastest way to generate content is through a command.

The CLI (command-line interface) is ideal when you want to automate repetitive tasks or generate assets at scale. Instead of creating every image manually, you can run commands that generate multiple assets using templates, existing data, or repeatable workflows.

If you’re using AI coding assistants like Claude Code or Codex, the CLI is often the best option. It integrates naturally into those environments, making it easy to trigger AI generation without leaving your workflow.

For example, imagine generating product images for an entire ecommerce catalog or creating hundreds of campaign variations. Rather than repeating the same steps over and over, a single command can handle the work for you.

The CLI is built for execution rather than exploration. Once you know the results you’re after, it helps you produce them faster and more consistently.

Best for:

  • Claude Code and Codex users
  • Automating repeatable creative tasks
  • Batch image or video generation
  • Large production workflows
  • Teams working with structured creative processes

MCP: bring AI generation into your favorite tools

Sometimes the best workflow doesn’t involve opening another application at all.

With Model Context Protocol (MCP), AI generation becomes part of the tools you already use.

Instead of switching tabs, you can ask your AI assistant to generate images, videos, or creative assets while you’re writing code, planning campaigns, or building websites.

For example, while creating a landing page inside Claude Code, you might simply ask for a hero image that matches your design. The assistant generates it through Picsart without interrupting your workflow.

That’s the real advantage of MCP: creative work happens naturally inside the environment where you’re already productive.

It’s especially valuable for teams that already rely on AI assistants throughout their day.

Best for:

  • Claude Code users
  • Cursor users
  • AI-assisted development
  • Integrated workflows
  • Power users

Skills: built-in creative expertise

Having access to powerful AI models doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get great results.

Choosing the right model, writing effective prompts, selecting the best settings, and knowing when to edit or upscale all require experience.

That’s where Picsart Skills come in.

Think of a Skill as creative expertise packaged into a reusable workflow. Instead of remembering which model works best for product photography or how to structure prompts for cinematic video, the Skill handles those decisions automatically. You simply describe what you want to create.

For individuals, Skills remove much of the learning curve. For teams, they make creative knowledge consistent. Instead of every designer developing their own prompting style, everyone follows the same proven workflow, producing more consistent results across projects.

As AI tools continue evolving, Skills also help future-proof workflows because the expertise lives inside the workflow rather than inside one person’s head.

Best for:

  • Marketing teams
  • Growing businesses
  • Agencies
  • Creative operations
  • Anyone who wants expert results without mastering every model

Which workflow fits you?

There’s no single path through AI generation.

Some creators spend almost all their time inside the web app. Others automate everything with the CLI. Many combine multiple interfaces depending on the project.

Here’s a simple way to think about it.

You’re exploring ideas

Start with the web app. It lets you experiment quickly, compare models, and develop prompting skills without worrying about setup.

You’re creating content every day

The desktop app becomes your creative home. Faster access, smoother workflows, and better file management make daily production easier.

You’re building automated systems

Choose the CLI or MCP. They integrate naturally into technical workflows and scale far beyond manual generation.

You’re managing a team

Add Skills to your workflow. They help everyone create consistently while reducing the time spent learning models and prompt engineering.

The best creators rarely use just one tool

One of the biggest misconceptions about AI generation is that you have to choose a single interface. In reality, most creators use different tools depending on what they’re trying to accomplish.

For example, a marketing team might brainstorm campaign ideas in the web app, refine visuals in the desktop app, automate recurring production with the CLI, and use an MCP connector with Claude Cowork to power an agent that researches ideas, drafts content for review, and presents creative options – all without leaving the conversation.

If you’re working in Claude Code or Codex, the CLI is often the best fit for integrating generation into your coding workflow. If you’re building agent-driven workflows, MCP is a better choice because it allows AI assistants to call generation tools as part of larger, multi-step tasks.

Other AI agents, such as Hermes, can also use MCP to chain together creative actions like generating images, removing backgrounds, upscaling assets, and preparing content for review. The goal isn’t to pick one interface -it’s to choose the one that fits your workflow.

The interface may change from task to task, but the creative goal stays the same: spending less time switching between tools and more time creating.

The real challenge isn’t generating content

Creating an AI image takes seconds.

Creating professional, consistent, high-quality creative work takes experience.

The biggest difference isn’t access to better models – it’s knowing which workflow helps you move from idea to finished asset with the fewest interruptions.

The right interface removes friction instead of adding it. It lets you focus on creating rather than configuring.

Whether you’re generating your first image or building production-scale creative systems, the best workflow is the one that fits naturally into the way you already work.

Frequently asked questions

MCP is the connection layer that allows AI assistants to access Picsart’s generation tools. A Skill provides the instructions that help the assistant choose the right models, prompts, and workflow for the task.