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OpenAI's ChatGPT just launched a new image-making tool with its GPT-4o model, and people online are going wild for it. Released this week, the tool lets users create all kinds of pictures-- like cartoons, memes, and designs-- just by typing words. The internet is now full of AI-made images, especially ones that look like they're from Studio Ghibli, the famous Japanese animation studio, and they're popping up everywhere on social media.

People are having fun making Ghibli-style pictures of their friends, family, and even famous folks like Elon Musk with US President Donald Trump. They've also made scenes from The Lord of the Rings and a version of the September 11 attacks. Companies are jumping in too, using it to make ads. So many people are using the tool that it's causing problems for OpenAI’s servers.

The boss, Sam Altman, went on X and said, "Can you all slow down with the pictures? Our team is tired, and the servers are struggling!" Someone replied, "Make it worse, or people will stop using it." Altman shot back, "We're making it better, not worse, but please chill a little!"

"We just haven’t been able to catch up since launch so people are still working to keep the service up biblical demand, i have never seen anything like it," he added.

Since it came out on Wednesday, this tool has sparked a huge wave of creativity, mixing Studio Ghibli's magical style with people’s wild ideas, and it’s become the internet’s new favourite thing.

Ghibli-style images highlight AI copyright concerns

Fans of Studio Ghibli, the famed Japanese animation studio behind "Spirited Away" and other beloved movies, were delighted this week when a new version of ChatGPT let them transform popular internet memes or personal photos into the distinct style of Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki.

But the trend also highlighted ethical concerns about artificial intelligence tools trained on copyrighted creative works and what that means for the future livelihoods of human artists. Miyazaki, 84, known for his hand-drawn approach and whimsical storytelling, has expressed scepticism about AI's role in animation.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which is fighting copyright lawsuits over its flagship chatbot, has largely encouraged the "Ghiblification" experiments and its CEO Sam Altman changed his profile on social media platform X into a Ghibli-style portrait. In a technical paper posted Tuesday, the company had said the new tool would be taking a “conservative approach” in the way it mimics the aesthetics of individual artists.

(With inputs from agencies)

Also Read: Ghibli Trend 2025: How To Generate Your Ghibli-Style Images For Free With ChatGPT