Internet Is Getting Drowned by Studio Ghibli-Style AI Image Trend

OpenAI has released a new version of ChatGPT, featuring its most fine-tuned image generator yet, and social media has suddenly seen the power of Studio Ghibli anew when it was filled with pictures in the style of the famous company.

Memes, political figures, or just family photos: AI is transforming everything in this new trend. 

Jumping on the bandwagon, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman replaced his X/Twitter profile image with a Ghibli-like portrait. 

You could argue it's all fun and games, but I doubt Hayao Miyazaki is happy about his hand-made art being used to train AI. 

"Miyazaki spent his entire life building one of the most expansive and imaginative bodies of work, all so you could rip it off and use it as a filter for your vacation photos," said filmmaker Robbie Shilstone. "I can't think of a worse artist to do it to as well. He is notorious for his attention to detail, his painstaking revisions, his uncompromising dedication to his craft. Now it's just viewed as content... it's a real shame."

Many years ago, Miyazaki did voice his view on AI and what it can do: "I feel like we are nearing the end of times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves," he said after a team of developers showed him their AI creation that could generate creepy, unnatural movements.

"Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is whatsoever. I am utterly disgusted. If you really want to make creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all," he added. "I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself."

It's not clear to me if he is "disgusted" by the unpleasant animation or AI itself, but I wonder what he thinks about the new Ghibli trend.

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