Following the release of ChatGPT’s new image-generation tool, user activity has surged; millions of people have been drawn to a trend whereby uploaded images are inspired by the unique visual style of Studio Ghibli.

The spike in interest contributed to record use levels for the chatbot and strained OpenAI’s infrastructure temporarily.

Social media platforms were soon flooded with AI-generated images styled after work by the renowned Japanese animation studio, known for titles like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. According to Similarweb, weekly active ChatGPT users passed 150 million for the first time this year.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the chatbot gained one million users in a single hour in early April – matching the numbers the text-centric ChatGPT reached over five days when it first launched.

SensorTower data shows the company also recorded a jump in app activity. Weekly active users, downloads, and in-app revenue all hit record levels last week, following the update to GPT-4o that enabled new image-generation features. Compared to late March, downloads rose by 11%, active users grew 5%, and revenue increased by 6%.

The new tool’s popularity caused service slowdowns and intermittent outages. OpenAI acknowledged the increased load, with Altman saying that users should expect delays in feature roll-outs and occasional service disruption as capacity issues are settled.

Legal questions surface around ChatGPT’s Ghibli-style AI art

The viral use of Studio Ghibli-inspired AI imagery from OpenAI’s ChatGPT has raised concerns about copyright. Legal experts point out that while artistic styles themselves may not always be protected, closely mimicking a well-known look could fall into a legal grey area.

“The legal landscape of AI-generated images mimicking Studio Ghibli’s distinctive style is an uncertain terrain. Copyright law has generally protected only specific expressions rather than artistic styles themselves,” said Evan Brown, partner at law firm Neal & McDevitt.

Miyazaki’s past comments have also resurfaced. In 2016, the Studio Ghibli co-founder responded to early AI-generated artwork by saying, “I am utterly disgusted. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.”

OpenAI has not commented on whether the model used for its image generation was trained on content similar to Ghibli’s animation.

Data privacy and personal risk

The trend has also drawn attention to user privacy and data security. Christoph C. Cemper, founder of AI prompt management firm AIPRM, cautioned that uploading a photo for artistic transformation may come with more risks than many users realise.

“When you upload a photo to an AI art generator, you’re giving away your biometric data (your face). Some AI tools store that data, use it to train future models, or even sell it to third parties – none of which you may be fully aware of unless you read the fine print,” Cemper said.

OpenAI’s privacy policy confirms that it collects both personal information and use data, including images and content submitted by users. Unless users opt out of training data collection or request deletion via their settings, content will be retained and used to improve future AI models.

Cemper said that once a facial image is uploaded, it becomes vulnerable to misuse. That data could be scraped, leaked, or used in identity theft, deepfake content, or other impersonation scams. He also pointed to prior incidents where private images were found in public AI datasets like LAION-5B, which are used to train various tools like Stable Diffusion.

Copyright and licensing considerations

There are also concerns that AI-generated content styled after recognisable artistic brands could cross into copyright infringement. While creating art in the style of Studio Ghibli, Disney, or Pixar might seem harmless, legal experts warn that such works may be considered derivative, especially if the mimicry is too close.

In 2022, several artists filed a class-action lawsuit against AI companies, claiming their models were trained on original artwork without consent. The cases reflect the broader conversation around how to balance innovation with creators’ rights as generative AI becomes more widely used.

Cemper also advised users to review carefully the terms of service on AI platforms. Many contain licensing clauses with language like “transferable rights,” “non-exclusive,” or “irrevocable licence,” which allow platforms to reproduce, modify, or distribute submitted content – even after the app is deleted.

“The rollout of ChatGPT’s 4o image generator shows just how powerful AI has become as it replicates iconic artistic styles with just a few clicks. But this unprecedented capability comes with a growing risk – the lines between creativity and copyright infringement are increasingly blurred,” Cemper said.

“The rapid pace of AI development also raises significant concerns about privacy and data security. There’s a pressing need for clearer, more transparent privacy policies. Users should be empowered to make informed decisions about uploading their photos or personal data.”

Search interest in “ChatGPT Studio Ghibli” has increased by more than 1,200% in the past week, but alongside the creativity and virality comes a wave of serious problems about privacy, copyright, and data use. As AI image tools get more advanced and accessible, users may want to think twice before uploading personal images, especially if they’re not sure where the data may ultimately end up.

(Image by YouTube Fireship)

See also: Midjourney V7: Faster AI image generation

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