OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT feature, allowing users to generate images in the style of Studio Ghibli, has become an instant hit. The demand has been so overwhelming that the company has had to impose temporary limits on its use.
CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the tool’s popularity on X, stating that their hardware was under strain. However, OpenAI has not disclosed how long the restrictions will last. The tool enables users to transform personal photos and internet memes into the signature hand-drawn aesthetic of the legendary Japanese animation studio.
Despite the excitement, the feature has raised ethical concerns about AI training on copyrighted works. Many wonder whether OpenAI obtained proper licensing to replicate Ghibli’s iconic style. Josh Weigensberg, a partner at law firm Pryor Cashman, questioned whether OpenAI had permission to use Miyazaki’s and Ghibli’s work for training its AI models.
The company has defended its approach, stating that the tool blocks requests to imitate the styles of living artists while allowing broader studio aesthetics. However, artists like Karla Ortiz, who has taken legal action against AI companies for copyright infringement, strongly criticised OpenAI’s move. She argued that it exploits Ghibli’s brand without consent or compensation.
Studio Ghibli has not commented on the controversy. However, its co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki, has previously condemned AI-generated art. In 2016, he described AI animation as an “insult to life itself.”
As OpenAI faces legal battles over AI training practices, the debate over ethical AI use continues.
