A viral trend of generating Ghibli-style AI art has pushed ChatGPT to record-breaking user numbers, leading to temporary feature restrictions due to server strain. OpenAI’s chatbot saw weekly active users surpass 150 million for the first time this year, fueled by the craze inspired by Studio Ghibli’s iconic animation style.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that the platform gained a million users in just one hour. This surge followed updates to GPT-4o, which enhanced AI-generated imagery, leading to record app downloads and revenue. However, the sudden traffic spike also caused intermittent outages and performance issues.
Also Read: Artificial Intelligence Is Slowly Replacing Human Work
Beyond technical challenges, the trend has sparked legal debates over copyright concerns. While AI-generated images may not directly infringe on intellectual property, legal experts argue that mimicking Studio Ghibli’s distinct style raises ethical questions. OpenAI has not yet responded to concerns about the data used for training its models.
Adding to the controversy, comments from Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki resurfaced, in which he expressed strong opposition to AI-generated art, calling it “utterly disgusting” and rejecting its use in creative work.
