AI-Generated Studio Ghibli-Style Images Flood Social Media After ChatGPT Update
Social media has exploded with AI-generated artwork mimicking Studio Ghibli’s signature style. This trend follows OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT update, which introduced advanced image generation through its GPT-4o model. The company calls it its “most sophisticated image generator yet.”
How OpenAI’s Image Generation Works
OpenAI improved its AI by training it on vast datasets of images and text. This method helps the model understand visual relationships and language connections.
“With aggressive post-training, the model achieves surprising visual fluency. It generates useful, consistent, and context-aware images,” OpenAI stated. However, the tool still struggles with image cropping, graphing accuracy, and multilingual text.
Users quickly discovered that uploading existing images into ChatGPT allows the model to replicate Studio Ghibli’s anime style. The studio, famous for Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, has a distinct hand-drawn aesthetic.
Viral Trend and Controversy
Within hours of the update, social media users shared AI-generated Ghibli-style images. These included figures like Donald Trump and scenes from popular films. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined in, using a Ghibli-style portrait as his profile picture.
Despite the enthusiasm, critics argue that OpenAI is copying Studio Ghibli’s artistic style, raising concerns over intellectual property rights. A 2016 video of Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli’s legendary co-founder, has resurfaced, reigniting the debate.
“I am utterly disgusted. If you want to make creepy stuff, go ahead. But I would never use this technology in my work,” Miyazaki said after seeing an AI animation demo. He added, “This is an insult to life itself.”
As AI continues to reshape art and design, the debate over technology versus artistic originality remains stronger than ever.
