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OpenAI’s image generator has been creating a buzz on the internet, owing to its ability to convert pictures into Studio Ghibli-style artworks.
Social media users shared their AI creations on the internet. (Photo Credit: X)
OpenAI’s latest image-generation update has clearly taken the internet world for a ride, allowing users to turn their pictures into stunning Studio Ghibli-style portraits. The feature is powered by the new GPT-4o model, with users widely sharing their AI-generated creations with friends, family members, movie characters, and much more across social media platforms. The phenomenon reached such a peak that even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had to intervene, asking users to slow down as he explained that his team needed rest.
But ever wondered how the trend started – something which brought together people from all walks of life? At a time when AI-generated Ghibli-style pictures were a thing, it was Seattle-based software engineer Grant Slatton who led the way to make it go mainstream. Shortly after OpenAI introduced its image-generator, Slatton shared a Ghibli-style picture with his family, including his wife and pet dog on X (formerly known as Twitter). “tremendous alpha right now in sending your wife photos of y’all converted to studio Ghibli anime,” he wrote.
Soon after, Slatton’s post became a talking point on the internet, even gaining a spot in a Business Insider article, prompting millions to follow in his footsteps. The post’s comment section was also filled with creations by social media users as they tried their hands on the update. A user wrote, “You kicked off a new way of life,” while another added, “Grant, everyone I know is making, posting, and sharing Ghibli anime pics. You’ve created the most adorable monsters.”
Not everyone was impressed by the creations as users started criticising such a technology, stating that it disrespects the artists and their work. His post has so far amassed nearly 50 million views, followed by more than 45,000 likes.
In the meantime, OpenAI has now expanded its image-generation feature to all users. The feature, which was initially rolled out for paid subscribers of ChatGPT, is now available for all. However, free users will have limited usage. “chatgpt image gen is now rolled out to all free users!” Altman wrote on X.
chatgpt image gen now rolled out to all free users!— Sam Altman (@sama) April 1, 2025
In another post, he also mentioned how the update got the company one million users in just an hour.
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