ChatGPT has reached a historic milestone in user activity, thanks to the explosive popularity of its new image generation tool that emulates the whimsical aesthetic of Studio Ghibli.
Ghibli-Inspired Feature Sends Usage Skyrocketing
The internet recently witnessed a flood of AI-generated visuals mimicking the iconic animation style of Studio Ghibli, known for classics like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. This viral trend triggered unprecedented user engagement on ChatGPT, propelling its active user count past 150 million for the first time in 2025, according to data from Similarweb.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that the bot attracted over a million users in just one hour—comparable to the five-day growth ChatGPT experienced at its initial launch. SensorTower also reported spikes in app activity, showing an 11% rise in downloads, a 5% increase in active users, and a 6% bump in in-app revenue following the update to GPT-4o.
Performance Bottlenecks and Server Strain
The sudden surge in demand overwhelmed OpenAI’s infrastructure, leading to temporary slowdowns and outages. Altman admitted that users should anticipate occasional disruptions and delays as the company works to scale its capacity and stabilize delivery of new features.
1. Legal Uncertainty Around Artistic Style Replication
The viral use of Ghibli-style imagery has raised serious copyright questions. While artistic “styles” may not be legally protected, closely mimicking them can enter a legal grey zone. Legal expert Evan Brown from Neal & McDevitt noted that existing copyright law primarily protects specific expressions, not general aesthetics—creating a murky area when AI-generated art treads too close to established brands.
This is not the first time generative AI has sparked legal scrutiny. In 2022, a group of artists filed a class-action lawsuit against AI firms over the unauthorized use of their original work for training models. The debate continues today, with unclear boundaries between homage and infringement. For example, recent developments like AI copyright challenges in the U.S. and UK spotlight the global divide in regulating generative content.
2. Data Privacy and Risk of Biometric Exploitation
Uploading photos to ChatGPT’s image tool may seem harmless, but it could expose users to biometric data risks. Christoph C. Cemper, founder of AIPRM, warned that user-submitted images—particularly facial data—can be stored, used for training, or even sold to third parties without explicit user awareness.
OpenAI’s privacy policy confirms that it collects user-submitted content, including images, unless users opt out or request deletion. The implications are profound: once uploaded, your likeness could potentially be scraped, leaked, or used for deepfake creation or identity fraud.
Cemper pointed out past incidents involving public datasets like LAION-5B, which included private images unknowingly used to train AI models. The current boom in image-gen tools calls for more transparent policies and user control over data usage.
3. Copyrighted Content in Training Data
Despite the popularity of the Ghibli-style results, OpenAI has not clarified whether their models were trained using actual Ghibli content. This omission fuels speculation and concern over the ethical acquisition of training data.
As AI-generated content continues to blur the lines between inspiration and plagiarism, creators and legal experts alike are calling for stronger regulations and ethical standards in AI development. Balancing innovation with respect for original creators remains an evolving challenge.
4. Licensing and Content Ownership
Many users are unaware that by submitting content to AI platforms, they may be giving up rights to their creations. Terms of service often include clauses such as “transferable rights,” “non-exclusive,” or “irrevocable license,” allowing platforms to reuse, modify, or distribute user content—sometimes even after deletion.
This lack of control over your own content is a growing concern as AI tools become more sophisticated. Users are advised to review terms carefully before sharing personal data or imagery, especially when engaging with platforms offering powerful creative tools.
Balancing Innovation and Responsibility
ChatGPT’s artistic capabilities are undeniably impressive, capturing the imagination of millions. However, this technological leap comes with a set of complex risks—from legal ambiguity and data privacy concerns to ethical dilemmas around creative ownership.
As AI continues to evolve, users, developers, and regulators must work together to ensure that innovation doesn’t outpace accountability. Whether you’re generating whimsical art or leveraging AI for business, understanding the implications behind the tech is more critical than ever.
For related insights into how AI is transforming creative workflows and operational efficiency, see how Progress enhanced ShareFile with AI automation to streamline productivity while maintaining compliance.
Bottom line: The Studio Ghibli-inspired trend has showcased the incredible potential of generative AI—but it’s a reminder that with great power comes great responsibility. Users must stay informed and cautious when engaging with these tools, especially as AI’s creative reach continues to expand.
