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ChatGPT’s New Feature Mimics Hayao Miyazaki’s Iconic Style, Sparks Debate
The painstaking process of creating animated films, exemplified by the celebrated works of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, typically spans years due to intricate hand-drawn artistry and meticulous attention to detail. However, a new update to ChatGPT, powered by OpenAI’s enhanced image-generation technology, now allows users to instantly transform photographs into artwork resembling Miyazaki’s distinctive style. This development has rapidly gained traction online, raising questions about artificial intelligence in art and creative expression.
Instant Ghibli-Inspired Images Go Viral
Following Tuesday’s release of the updated ChatGPT, social media platforms were flooded with images stylized to mimic Studio Ghibli’s aesthetic. Users eagerly applied the filter to a wide array of personal photos, including selfies, family portraits, and internet memes. While many celebrated the artistic possibilities, some users also explored the darker side of the technology, generating Ghibli-style renderings of sensitive and violent events, such as the 9/11 attacks and the murder of George Floyd.
Reactions Range from Delight to Discomfort
Even OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, joined the trend, replacing his X profile picture with a Ghibli-style self-portrait and humorously acknowledging the feature’s viral popularity. For some, like Kouka Webb, a dietitian from TriBeCa, the feature offered unexpected emotional resonance. Ms. Webb, originally from Japan, transformed her wedding photos into Ghibli-esque scenes, a process she found surprisingly moving, especially in light of her late mother and feelings of homesickness.
“My Japanese mother passed away and I just feel really homesick,” she stated. “I found a lot of joy in making those images. It was just a fun way to turn memories into a format that I grew up with.” However, upon sharing these images on TikTok, Ms. Webb encountered criticism from users who questioned the use of AI instead of engaging human artists.
Ethical Concerns and Artistic Integrity
The ease of generating AI art in the style of Studio Ghibli has reignited broader discussions concerning artificial intelligence and creativity. A resurfaced clip from a 2016 documentary featuring Hayao Miyazaki captures his critical view of AI, labeling it “an insult to life itself.” This sentiment reflects wider anxieties within creative industries regarding AI’s impact on artistic professions.
Artists Express Concerns Over AI Art Generation
The increasing sophistication and accessibility of AI platforms have led to growing unease amongst writers, actors, musicians, and visual artists. Jonathan Lam, a storyboard artist in video games and animation, previously highlighted the issue of style appropriation in the context of Lensa AI, another image-generation tool. He argued that for artists, style is not merely a set of techniques but a core element of their professional identity and marketability.
Echoing these concerns, over 10,000 creatives, including prominent figures like author Kazuo Ishiguro, actress Julianne Moore, and musician Thom Yorke, signed an open letter in 2024. This letter protested the “unlicensed use of creative works” in training AI models like ChatGPT, raising serious questions about copyright and fair use.
OpenAI Responds to Usage Concerns and Restrictions
Sculptor Emily Berganza, who experimented with ChatGPT to transform memes into Ghibli-style art, expressed both admiration for the technology’s capabilities and apprehensions about its implications for creative professions, considering it a potential “threat.” By Thursday, she observed that ChatGPT seemed to have implemented stricter limitations on the types of images users could “Ghiblify,” suggesting a response to emerging ethical and content moderation challenges.
Taya Christianson, a spokesperson for OpenAI, addressed these points in an email, stating, “Our goal is to give users as much creative freedom as possible. 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.” Ms. Christianson also referenced OpenAI’s public statements about taking a “conservative approach” with its image generation enhancements.
Ms. Berganza remains thoughtful about the long-term societal integration of AI art tools: “I’m still kind of formulating thoughts on how it affects like the future for a lot of these artists and illustrators,” she reflected, adding, “But then again, I also have to be open to the concept of how this is now going to be integrated in our society.” She acknowledged a need to adapt and stay informed about these rapidly evolving technologies.