As reported by AI News, ChatGPT’s new image-generation tool has taken the internet by storm, sparking a wave of creativity inspired by the iconic visual style of Studio Ghibli. Fans of legendary Ghibli films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro have flocked to the platform, leading to a surge in activity that briefly overwhelmed OpenAI’s infrastructure. This new trend has contributed to a dramatic increase in weekly active users, with Similarweb reporting over 150 million active ChatGPT users for the first time this year. In early April, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted that ChatGPT gained one million users within just one hour — a milestone that took the platform five days to achieve during its initial launch.
The viral nature of these AI-generated images, which capture the unmistakable style of the beloved Japanese animation studio, has caused a significant rise in app downloads, active users, and in-app revenue, according to SensorTower. After the GPT-4o update unlocked image-generation features, downloads increased by 11%, active users grew by 5%, and revenue saw a 6% jump — all within a single week.
However, while the demand for these creative tools has been unprecedented, it has also led to some service slowdowns and occasional outages. OpenAI acknowledged the strain on its servers, with Altman advising users to expect delays and disruptions as they work to address capacity challenges.
Amid this explosion of AI-powered creativity, concerns around copyright and data privacy have emerged. Legal experts have questioned the legitimacy of AI-generated images that closely mimic the visual style of Studio Ghibli, pointing out that while the law protects specific artistic expressions, replicating an entire style could lead to legal complexities. As Evan Brown, a partner at Neal & McDevitt law firm, explained, “the legal landscape of AI-generated images mimicking Studio Ghibli’s distinctive style is uncertain.”
Moreover, the rise of AI-generated art has prompted warnings about privacy risks. Christoph C. Cemper, founder of AI prompt management firm AIPRM, cautioned that uploading personal photos for artistic transformation could inadvertently share biometric data, such as facial images. Some AI tools may store this data, use it to train future models, or even sell it to third parties. Users may not be fully aware of this unless they read through privacy policies carefully.
OpenAI’s privacy policy specifies that it collects user information, including images and content submitted for training purposes, unless users opt out or request deletion of their data. Cemper also warned that once a facial image is uploaded, it could be vulnerable to misuse, including identity theft or the creation of deepfakes. Additionally, AI-generated art in the style of popular studios like Studio Ghibli, Disney, or Pixar raises questions about copyright infringement. Legal experts stress that such works could be viewed as derivative, especially if the style replication is too close to the original.
The ongoing trend has sparked important conversations around the balance between innovation and the rights of creators. In 2022, a group of artists filed a class-action lawsuit against AI companies, claiming their artwork was used without consent to train models. As AI image generation tools continue to improve and become more accessible, Cemper advises users to carefully review terms of service, as many platforms include clauses granting “transferable rights” or “irrevocable licenses” that allow them to modify, distribute, or use submitted content, even after it has been deleted.
With search interest for “ChatGPT Studio Ghibli” spiking by over 1,200% in the past week, it’s clear that this viral trend is raising important questions about privacy, copyright, and the use of personal data. As these AI tools become increasingly powerful and widespread, users should remain cautious when uploading personal content, especially when the destination of their data may not be entirely clear.
