The recent trend of Studio Ghibli-style animation has prompted OpenAI to temporarily suspend its free GPT-4o feature. This decision was announced just one day after the debut of a new photo-generating feature that integrates the GPT-4o model, which offered significant improvements in image fidelity and the ability to render coherent text within images.
According to Digital Trends, the trend of creating images reminiscent of the iconic Japanese animation studio quickly went viral on social media, raising various legal and ethical concerns. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, initially showed interest in adopting a Ghibli-style image for his social media profile but later decided to postpone the feature’s rollout for free ChatGPT users.
Currently, subscribers to paid plans, such as Plus, Pro, and Team, can still access the photo-generating functionality. Legal experts are weighing in on the situation; Evan Brown, an intellectual property attorney, noted that while copying an animation studio’s style may not constitute direct copyright infringement, it exists within a complex legal “gray area.”
OpenAI clarified that while its tools can mimic the general style of a film studio, they are not designed to replicate the work of individual artists. The pause on the free image generation service reflects OpenAI’s cautious approach in navigating potential legal risks as the company seeks a more effective solution.
This situation echoes a similar occurrence in late 2023 when Microsoft’s AI-powered Funko Pop! character creation tool faced challenges related to copyright, particularly when users attempted to create images of celebrities and had to resort to command “tricks” to bypass legal restrictions.
Overall, OpenAI’s rapid response highlights the significant challenges tech companies encounter when deploying advanced AI tools, specifically the need to balance user creativity with the obligations surrounding copyright, ethics, and the potential misuse of technology.