Ghibli art frenzy melting ChatGPT servers; OpenAI puts limit

​OpenAI has imposed temporary rate limits on ChatGPT's recently launched image generation feature following an overwhelming surge in demand, particularly for Studio Ghibli-style artworks. 

The firm's CEO, Sam Altman, announced the measure on Thursday, stating, "It's super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT, but our GPUs are melting." ​

The image generation capability, powered by the GPT-4o model, was introduced Tuesday and is currently available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers. 

Due to the high demand, the rollout for free users has been delayed, with plans to allow them to generate up to three images per day in the near future. ​

In India, users ran with the feature, transforming personal photos and popular memes into Ghibli-style artworks and sharing them across social media platforms like Instagram and X. 

Users also created politically charged artworks, one of them depicting the 1992 demolition of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya as a "watershed" moment for the country. Another depicted Narendra Modi drinking a glass of water during a famous interview with the journalist Karan Thapar. 

India at present accounts for approximately 8.85 per cent of ChatGPT's global user base.

The surge in such images has reignited ethical debates, especially considering Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki's past criticism of AI-driven art, which he described as "disgusting." 

Image Source: Unsplash