• About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Sunday, June 29, 2025
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Tech | Business | Economy
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • StartUPs
      • Chidiverse
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
    • Appointment
  • TECHECONOMY TV
  • Apply
  • TBS
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • Chidiverse
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • StartUPs
      • Chidiverse
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
    • Appointment
  • TECHECONOMY TV
  • Apply
  • TBS
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • Chidiverse
No Result
View All Result
Tech | Business | Economy
No Result
View All Result
Home DisruptiveTECH

150 Million Users and Melting GPUs | ChatGPT’s Ghibli Trend Explodes

by Joan Aimuengheuwa
April 1, 2025
in DisruptiveTECH
0
ChatGPT Ghibli Trend
Source: Getty Images

Source: Getty Images

UBA
Advertisements

OpenAI’s ChatGPT got a massive increase in users last week following the introduction of its image generation feature powered by the GPT-4o model as users rushed to generate Studio Ghibli-style images using its AI tool. 

Initially launched for paid subscribers on March 25, 2025, the release of OpenAI’s image generation feature to free users was temporarily delayed due to overwhelming demand. However, as of April 1, 2025, the feature has been made available to all users, with free-tier accounts limited to generating three images per day. ​

The surge, which saw the chatbot surpass 150 million weekly active users for the first time this year, pushed OpenAI’s servers to their limits, forcing the company to impose temporary restrictions.

The trend exploded across social media, with users sharing AI-generated visuals inspired by the signature aesthetic of Studio Ghibli—soft pastel colours, hand-painted backgrounds, and whimsical character designs. The Japanese animation studio, co-founded by legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, is known for classics such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.

The sudden wave of interest in AI art was unlike anything OpenAI had seen before. CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the spike in an X post, stating, “We added one million users in the last hour,” a rate far exceeding the chatbot’s original adoption speed in 2022. 

According to market intelligence firm SensorTower, ChatGPT’s in-app subscription revenue and downloads hit record highs, with app downloads rising 11% and in-app purchases increasing by 6% compared to the previous week.

However, the rapid growth came at a cost. OpenAI’s infrastructure struggled under the pressure, with Altman admitting, “Our GPUs are melting.” To manage the load, the company placed limits on image generation, particularly for free-tier users, who were later restricted to just three image generations per day.

As ChatGPT and other AI-generated Ghibli-style images flooded social media, an old interview with Hayao Miyazaki resurfaced, adding fuel to the debate over the ethics of AI-generated art. The famed animator has long opposed AI in creative work, once stating, “I am utterly disgusted. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.”

Beyond Miyazaki’s philosophical objections, legal concerns emerged. AI-generated images raise questions about copyright infringement, particularly when mimicking a well-established artistic style. Evan Brown, a partner at law firm Neal & McDevitt, weighed in on the legal grey area, explaining, “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.”

OpenAI has not disclosed the specific data used to train its image-generation model, leaving some questioning whether copyrighted works played a role in its AI’s artistic abilities.

While OpenAI’s tool led the charge in this latest trend, it is far from the only player in the AI art space. Other platforms such as Grok, Fotor, and Hugging Face also offer users the ability to generate Ghibli-style images, sometimes for free. This accessibility further questions the sustainability and legality of AI-generated art as it becomes more mainstream.

The excitement around AI-generated imagery has also led to discussions about its long-term value. While many users enjoy the novelty, some question whether it has practical applications beyond social media trends. A user on X said that AI-generated art needs to evolve beyond “just a gimmick” if it is to be taken seriously as a creative tool.

The viral trend had a significant impact on OpenAI’s business. With ChatGPT’s adoption skyrocketing, the company saw a surge in revenue from its premium plans. The boom also coincided with OpenAI’s reported efforts to secure new funding, which could push its valuation beyond $100 billion.

Loading

Advertisements
MTN ADS

0Shares
Tags: ChatGPTChatGPT's Ghibli TrendGhibliGhibli-style imagesGPT-4o modelOpenAI image generator
Joan Aimuengheuwa

Joan Aimuengheuwa

Joan thrives at helping individuals and businesses scale via storytelling...

Next Post
Green Africa gChat Bot

Green Africa Acquires First Owned Aircraft

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recommended

13 States Sue TikTok for Exploiting Children

13 States Sue TikTok for Exploiting Children

9 months ago
Nigeria Foreign Exchange Reserve, National Debt not Mutually Exclusive- Expert

Nigeria Foreign Exchange Reserve, National Debt not Mutually Exclusive- Expert

1 year ago

Popular News

    Connect with us

    • About
    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • Contact Us

    © 2025 TECHECONOMY.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • News
    • Tech
      • DisruptiveTECH
      • ConsumerTech
      • How To
      • TechTAINMENT
    • Business
      • Telecoms
      • Mobility
      • Environment
      • Travel
      • StartUPs
        • Chidiverse
      • TE Insights
      • Security
    • Partners
    • Economy
      • Finance
      • Fintech
      • Digital Assets
      • Personal Finance
      • Insurance
    • Features
      • IndustryINFLUENCERS
      • Guest Writer
      • EventDIARY
      • Editorial
      • Appointment
    • TECHECONOMY TV
    • Apply
    • TBS
    • BusinesSENSE For SMEs

    © 2025 TECHECONOMY.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    Translate »
    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.