ChatGPT Usage Hits Record Amid Viral Ghibli-Style AI Art Trend
- tech360.tv
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
A surge in demand for Ghibli-style AI-generated images using ChatGPT’s new image tool pushed OpenAI’s chatbot to a record high in user activity last week.
The viral trend, inspired by the hand-drawn aesthetic of Studio Ghibli, led to a spike in traffic that strained OpenAI’s servers and temporarily limited access to the feature.
Studio Ghibli, co-founded by director Hayao Miyazaki, is known for iconic films such as "Spirited Away" and "My Neighbour Totoro." Social media platforms were flooded with AI-generated images mimicking the studio’s signature style.
Weekly active users of ChatGPT surpassed 150 million for the first time this year, according to market research firm Similarweb.
OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman said in a post on X that the company added one million users in a single hour, a sharp contrast to the five days it took to reach that number after ChatGPT’s initial launch more than two years ago.
SensorTower data showed that active users, in-app subscription revenue and app downloads all hit record highs last week following the rollout of GPT-4o, which includes advanced image generation capabilities.
Global app downloads rose 11%, weekly active users increased 5%, and in-app purchase revenue climbed 6% compared to the previous week, according to the market intelligence firm.
The rapid growth has caused technical issues, including glitches and minor outages, as OpenAI works to manage the increased demand.
“We are getting things under control, but you should expect new releases from OpenAI to be delayed, stuff to break, and for service to sometimes be slow as we deal with capacity challenges,” said OpenAI co-founder on Tuesday.
The popularity of the Ghibli-style images has also raised legal concerns about copyright infringement.
Evan Brown, partner at law firm Neal & McDevitt, said the legal status of AI-generated images that imitate Studio Ghibli’s style remains unclear, as copyright law typically protects specific expressions rather than artistic styles.
Comments from Miyazaki in 2016 resurfaced amid the trend. After viewing an early AI-generated render, he said, “I am utterly disgusted. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.”
ChatGPT usage hit a record high due to viral Ghibli-style image generation
Weekly active users surpassed 150 million for the first time in 2024
App downloads rose 11%, and in-app revenue increased 6% last week
Source: REUTERS
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