Ghibli-style images drive OpenAI users to 1B
Artificial intelligence has often fascinated scientists and creatives alike, but its recent leap into mainstream culture wasn’t sparked by scientific breakthroughs alone. Instead, the driving force appears to be animated art, specifically, images styled after Studio Ghibli’s distinctive aesthetic. Following the release of an upgrade to ChatGPT-4o, OpenAI has witnessed explosive growth in its user base, primarily fueled by this whimsical feature.
Roughly three weeks after the update launched, CEO Sam Altman revealed that ChatGPT’s active users have doubled. While exact numbers remain somewhat unclear, Altman hinted during a TED discussion with Chris Anderson that the user base now lies between 800 million and 1 billion. Initially, Altman stated the figure was 500 million weekly active users. When Anderson noted that this number had doubled in recent weeks, Altman confirmed the claim. Later, Altman remarked that “something like 10% of the world uses our systems,” reinforcing the estimate of 800 million users.
Why Ghibli-Style Art Sparked a Boom
So, what exactly caused this massive user surge? The ability to generate Ghibli-style art with AI turned out to be a viral sensation. Users flocked to ChatGPT not just to interact with text but to transform photos and concepts into soft, fantastical illustrations. While the Ghibli trend started it all, new visual memes like the action figure and art toy aesthetic—quickly followed, keeping the momentum going.
This surge showcases how creativity can redefine a tool’s purpose. AI, once viewed mainly through technical or scientific lenses, now appeals to the creative public. As a result, more people feel motivated to engage with it, whether for fun, self-expression, or social media content.
Balancing Creativity with Copyright
Naturally, questions around legality emerged. Altman addressed these concerns by stating that OpenAI is considering a system where artists can receive compensation if their style is used by opt-in prompts. Importantly, the model includes safeguards to prevent reproduction of direct copyrighted content.
Japanese copyright law also plays a key role. Under Article 30-4 of the Japanese Copyright Act, AI developers are allowed to use copyrighted material for training. Moreover, mimicking a general artistic style is not considered copyright infringement. That means creating a Ghibli-style version of yourself is legal as long as you don’t replicate specific characters or scenes from the films.
In short, AI’s latest viral success comes not from complex problem-solving, but from embracing art, creativity, and user-friendly fun.
