RedFerns Tech
April 17, 2025
Last week, the internet exploded with a new digital art trend: AI-generated illustrations inspired by the beloved hand-drawn style of Studio Ghibli.
This trend, sparked by the latest image-generation capabilities in OpenAI’s GPT-4o, led to a massive surge in ChatGPT usage, with weekly active users hitting a record-breaking 150 million for the first time in 2025.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shared a milestone: “We added a million users in the last hour,” drawing a parallel to ChatGPT’s original viral moment back in 2022.
Surging Stats Meet Server Strain
- App Downloads: +11%
- Weekly Active Users: +5%
- In-App Revenue: +6%
However, this massive spike also caused strain on servers, with temporary outages reported. Downdetector logged over 200 complaints in one hour.
Altman humorously tweeted, “Can y’all please chill on generating images—this is insane. Our team needs sleep.”
Legal Concerns and Public Backlash
The trend also stirred debates on the ethics and legality of AI-generated art. While artistic styles are not covered by copyright, mimicking Studio Ghibli’s signature aesthetic raised concern.
Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s 2016 comment resurfaced: “I am utterly disgusted” after seeing AI-created artwork.
The Bigger Picture: AI in the Creative World
Despite the backlash, Altman remains optimistic about AI’s creative role, emphasizing augmentation over replacement. As ChatGPT evolves, the conversation on ethics, copyright, and innovation intensifies.
Final Thoughts
The “Ghibli Effect” may mark a new era where technology and art converge. Whether embraced or questioned, one thing is certain — AI-generated art is now mainstream.
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