HIGHLIGHTS

Sam Altman indicates that the OpenAI team is striving to cope with the increased demand.

In response to a user on X, he expressed satisfaction with the platform’s ability to bring joy to users.

Individuals from various fields, including celebrities and politicians, have engaged with social media to share their creations.

Recently, Sam Altman expressed a desire for the public to moderate the influx of Studio Ghibli-style images being generated, hinting at the significant strain this is placing on the OpenAI team. This call for restraint comes shortly after Altman mentioned that the company’s GPUs were overwhelmed due to the high volume of images being produced.

“Can y’all please chill on generating images? This is insane; our team needs sleep,” Altman communicated on X this past Sunday, highlighting the pronounced stress this surge has placed on both the company’s servers and their engineering workforce. Nonetheless, in a follow-up interaction with another user, he expressed that he is pleased to see such a positive reaction from users.

can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep

— Sam Altman (@sama) March 30, 2025

The enthusiasm for crafting these anime-style visuals has surged since OpenAI rolled out its latest AI model, GPT-4o, which is capable of transforming simple text prompts into enchanting Ghibli-style artwork. Users have eagerly taken to social media platforms, showcasing their transformed images as charming portraits that echo Studio Ghibli’s enchanting animation style. The trend has garnered participation from a wide array of individuals, including numerous celebrities and politicians.

Nevertheless, creating these images demands substantial computing power, which is a critical factor affecting the overall performance of the system.

“It’s super fun to see people enjoy the AI-generated images from ChatGPT. However, our GPUs are literally melting down. To manage the situation better, we will temporarily implement some rate limits while we enhance efficiency. Hopefully, this won’t take too long! Soon, the ChatGPT free tier will allow three generations per day,” Altman noted in a previous post this week.

For those who may not be familiar, Studio Ghibli is a renowned Japanese animation studio celebrated for its stunningly beautiful and emotionally impactful films, such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle. Co-founded by two legendary figures in animation, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, the studio has enchanted audiences with its distinctive hand-drawn art style, relatable characters, and beautifully woven narratives.

Moreover, Studio Ghibli’s remarkable visual appeal, characterized by dreamy, painterly backgrounds and a nostalgic feel, has transcended beyond traditional animated films. Today, social media users are harnessing advanced AI technologies to recreate memorable scenes and even themselves in the quintessential Ghibli style, fueling a new viral sensation.

This delightful interaction between technology and creativity showcases how AI is revolutionizing not just artistic expression but also how users engage with beloved cultural themes. As the technology continues to advance, the collaboration of art and AI opens up new frontiers for innovation and enjoyment, albeit with the responsibility of managing its impact on resources and capabilities.

Though the current surge in Ghibli-style image creation is a fun and engaging way for users to connect with their favorite animations, it also highlights the challenges accompanying rapid technological adoption. The balance between artistic freedom and resource management becomes increasingly crucial as we explore the limitless potential of AI-driven creativity.