April 4, 2024/Midnight
Erie, PA – On March 25th, OpenAI introduced its special feature, AI image generator, which has attracted a million of ChatGPT users. Sam Altmon, the CEO of OpenAI, shared this milestone on his X account.
Released in 2023, the image feature was integrated into ChatGPT through DALL-E 3, an advanced model developed by OpenAI. This tool allows users to create a digital image by providing descriptive text or an image. However, at that time, AI image generator was restricted to users, and only Chat GPT Plus subscribers and Chat GPT Enterprise customers were able to use.
After years of experimenting, OpenAI officially announced that in GPT-40, the most updated version, all users – including those with free accounts – will have access to this advanced feature. This version introduced several innovations including better ability to follow detailed instructions, handling multiple requests efficiently, and better generating more creative outputs.
This feature has opened new creative possibilities for users, sparking trends such as the widely popular Ghibli – style artwork. Originating from a legendary Japanese studio of the same name, the Ghibli art style is a hand-drawn animation technique using a soft and neutral color palette. Unlike modern digital animation, Ghibli’s characters possess a natural, organic charm, appearing deeply human and remarkably lifelike.
One of the most iconic films embodying this art style is Spirited Away (2001), a timeless masterpiece that has left a lasting impression on countless childhoods.
The Ghibli-style trend has quickly gone viral on social media platforms. Users showcase their real-life photos alongside AI-generated illustrations reimagined in the enchanting Ghibli aesthetic. OpenAI’s CEO has also joined in on the trend, updating his profile picture on X to an animated version of himself.
Beyond personal portraits, users also use this tool to create Ghibli version of numerous famous memes, adding a sense of cuteness and animation into these iconic images.
However, AI image generators have raised concerns over copyrights issues. Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Ghibli Studio and the director of Spirited Away, called AI-generated image as an “insult to life itself.”
“Whoever made it gives no thought to pain. It’s very unpleasant.” He said at an AI demonstration in 2016.
A New York gallery, Christie’s, planned to hold an AI art auction but faced significant backlash. Nearly 4,000 people signed a letter urging Christie’s to cancel the event, arguing that “many of the artworks you plan to auction were created using AI models known to be trained on copyrighted works without a license. These models, and the companies behind them, exploit human artists—using their work without permission or compensation to develop commercial AI products that directly compete with them. According to NBC News, a spokesperson of OpenAI wrote in an email that “We continue to prevent generations in the style of individual living artists, but we do permit broader studio styles—which people have used to generate and share some truly delightful and inspired original fan creations. We’re always learning from real-world use and feedback, and we’ll keep refining our policies as we go.”
