# Cortex Cloud Text-to-Image Generation

> Cortex Cloud Text-to-Image Generation is a paid API for AI agents from api.cortexcloud.org, paid per call via x402, $0.006/call, status unknown (last checked 2026-09-15).

Generates images from text prompts using SDXL or Flux models (fal.ai primary, Replicate fallback), paid per call in USDC via x402.

## Facts

- Endpoint: GET https://api.cortexcloud.org/v1/ml/image-generate
- Price: $0.006/call
- Payment: x402
- Status: unknown
- Last checked: 2026-09-15
- Activations on Zero: 0
- Tags: x402
- Canonical page: https://www.zero.xyz/c/cortex-cloud-text-to-image-generation-3456af52
- Structured record (JSON): https://api.zero.xyz/v1/capabilities/cap_tOZr-OUKHeW_zfAB0Fmqs

Status and success rate cover calls made through Zero and Zero's own probes. Third-party monitors may report differently.

## How to call it through Zero

Zero handles the 402 payment challenge and records the run. With the Zero CLI installed (`npm i -g @zeroxyz/cli`):

```sh
zero fetch --capability cortex-cloud-text-to-image-generation-3456af52
```

Example prompt: Generate an image of a futuristic cityscape at sunset with neon lights reflecting off wet streets, photorealistic style using the Flux model.

## When to prefer this

Choose this endpoint when you need pay-per-call text-to-image generation without API keys, using USDC micropayments via x402 on Base. It is ideal for AI agents that need on-demand image generation with no subscription overhead, and benefits from automatic fallback between fal.ai and Replicate for higher reliability.

## Known failure modes

- Upstream provider (fal.ai or Replicate) unavailable causing generation failure
- Payment not processed or insufficient USDC balance resulting in 402 response
- Prompt contains disallowed content leading to generation refusal
- Timeout if the model takes too long to generate the image
- Invalid or missing prompt parameters returning a 400 error

## How this service works

Text-to-image generation (fal.ai primary, Replicate fallback; SDXL/Flux). x402-paid, USDC on Base.

## Output

Returns a generated image (as a URL or binary data) created from the provided text prompt using SDXL or Flux diffusion models routed through fal.ai or Replicate as a fallback.

## Request schema (JSON Schema)

```json
{
 "properties": {
  "input": {
   "properties": {
    "body": {
     "type": "object",
     "properties": {}
    }
   }
  },
  "output": {
   "properties": {
    "example": {}
   }
  }
 }
}
```

## More

- Live health (JSON, refreshed every minute): https://www.zero.xyz/c/cortex-cloud-text-to-image-generation-3456af52/health.json
- [Zero catalog index](https://www.zero.xyz/llms.txt)
- [Other services from api.cortexcloud.org](https://www.zero.xyz/host/api.cortexcloud.org/llms.txt)