“Record Surge in ChatGPT Usage Following Ghibli Integration”
By Akash Sriram (Reuters) – A surge in the use of ChatGPT’s image-generation tool to create Ghibli-style AI art led to a significant increase in users last week, causing strain on OpenAI’s servers and temporary limitations on the feature’s use. The viral trend, inspired by the renowned Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, founded by director Hayao Miyazaki, resulted in a flood of social media images mimicking the studio’s hand-drawn style seen in movies like “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro.” According to market research firm Similarweb, the number of weekly active users surpassed 150 million for the first time this year. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted a rapid addition of one million users, comparing it to the initial surge following ChatGPT’s launch over two years ago. With updates to the GPT-4o model allowing advanced image generation, the app experienced record-high app downloads, active users, and in-app purchase revenue last week, as reported by SensorTower data. However, the chatbot faced technical challenges and slowdowns due to the increased traffic. OpenAI acknowledged the issues and expected delays in future releases. Concerns about copyright violations arose with the extensive use of the AI tool to replicate Ghibli’s style. Legal experts noted uncertainties around copyright law and artistic styles in AI-generated images. Studio Ghibli co-founder Miyazaki’s past remarks expressing disdain for AI-generated images resurfaced amid the trend. OpenAI did not immediately respond to queries regarding data training and legal implications. (Reporting by Akash Sriram, Editing by Arpan Varghese and Anil D’Silva)
