OpenAI recently introduced Studio Ghibli-style image generation for ChatGPT free users, sparking a surge of Ghibli-style images across the internet. The viral craze led to millions of new users joining ChatGPT.
While users may enjoy the fun of seeing themselves in Ghibli-style art, experts warn they might be unknowingly handing over fresh facial data to OpenAI, raising significant privacy concerns.
The Frenzy of Studio Ghibli Style Images
On March 26, OpenAI launched its native image generation feature to all ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team users worldwide, later extending it to free users as well. The introduction of Japan’s Studio Ghibli-inspired artwork feature captivated social media users, who eagerly transformed their images into the signature style of popular anime films. However, due to overwhelming demand, OpenAI imposed certain restrictions on image generation for both paid and free users, as CEO Sam Altman explained, the high usage was “melting its GPUs (graphics processing units).”
On April 1, OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman shared on the social networking app X that the ChatGPT launch 26 months ago was one of the most viral moments he’d ever witnessed. During the Studio Ghibli frenzy, ChatGPT gained one million users in just the last hour and another million in just five days, Altman said.
The craze quickly went viral, with Ghibli-styled images flooding the internet and social media feeds—though this phenomenon comes with its own challenges.
What Made Netizens Catch the Ghibli Trend?
Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation film studio founded in 1985 by Miyazaki Hayao, Takahata Isao, and Suzuki Toshio, is renowned for its high-quality hand-drawn animation and rich storytelling. Iconic films like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and many more have earned global acclaim. Ghibli’s films are celebrated for their dreamlike landscapes, soft color palettes, and deeply human narratives. The studio’s labor-intensive, hand-drawn approach has long been regarded as the gold standard in traditional animation—after all, a four-second clip from The Wind Rises (2013) took animator Eiji Yamamori over a year and three months to complete.
While this isn’t the first AI system capable of emulating specific artistic styles, it’s arguably the easiest and most impressive one yet. The distinct aesthetics of Studio Ghibli—marked by its cheerful charm and vivid appeal—resonate deeply with audiences. The art style’s inherent beauty and perfection make it easy to understand why people have fallen in love with the Studio Ghibli effect.
Concerns About Data and Privacy
While there’s a debate ongoing about the copyrights of the original Japanese studio to which you may agree or disagree but for all users, data and privacy do matter. Millions of AI enthusiasts hopped onto ChatGPT and uploaded their personal photos to transform into the Ghibli-style anime art, but privacy experts feel that there are some concerns about personal data.
OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is legally bound by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to justify its data practices under the principle of “legitimate interest”—ensuring that user privacy is protected and data handling is transparent. When users upload photos for Ghibli transformations, they agree to terms of service that may bypass some of these protections.
In an in-depth post on social media platform X, Luiza Jarovsky, co-founder of the AI, Tech & Privacy Academy, explained that when people voluntarily upload images, they are giving their consent for OpenAI to process them under Article 6.1.a of the GDPR. This legal ground provides OpenAI more freedom, and the legitimate interest balancing test no longer applies. She further pointed out that OpenAI’s privacy policy explicitly states the company collects personal data input by users to train its AI models unless users opt out.
Digital privacy activists say that OpenAI could be leveraging this trend to collect thousands of personal images for AI training purposes. While users may enjoy the fun of seeing themselves in Ghibli-style art, critics warn they might be unknowingly handing over fresh facial data to OpenAI, raising significant privacy concerns.
On social media platform X, cyber security dedicated account, called Himachal Cyber Warriors warned people to “Think before you Ghibli.” The account highlighted risks such as the misuse or manipulation of uploaded photos, AI training without explicit consent, and the potential for data to be sold to brokers for targeted advertising.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
- Think Twice Before Uploading: Avoid uploading private photos to unknown or untrusted platforms. If you must upload, use lower-resolution images to reduce the risk of them being scraped for AI training.
- Review Privacy Policies: Always read the platform’s privacy policy to understand how your data will be used. Check for details on data collection, storage, and sharing practices.
- Opt for Privacy-Focused Platforms: Choose platforms that prioritize user privacy and do not store your data longer than necessary.
- Manage App Permissions: When downloading apps, carefully review permissions. Revoke access to your camera and gallery for apps that don’t need them.
- Monitor Your Images: Perform a reverse image search to see if your photos are being used elsewhere online without your consent. This can help identify unauthorized use or potential privacy breaches.
By staying informed and cautious, you can better protect your personal data in the age of AI and digital transformation.
Did You Know?
Amid Ghibli Hype OpenAI Secures $40 Billion Funding
- Sam Altman announced that ChatGPT had reached a record-breaking 1 million users in just one hour, driven by the popularity of its Ghibli-style image generation feature.
- This surge in user engagement has helped OpenAI secure $40 billion in a funding round led by SoftBank Group, boosting its valuation to $300 billion.
- According to a report by Bloomberg, this is the largest financing round in OpenAI’s history, nearly doubling its valuation from $157 billion since its last funding round in October 2024.
- Sensor Tower data revealed that ChatGPT’s active users, in-app subscription revenue, and app downloads hit all-time highs last week following the launch of updates to its GPT-4o model, which introduced advanced image generation capabilities.
- Global app downloads and weekly active users grew by 11% and 5%, respectively, while in-app purchase revenue rose by 6% compared to the previous week.
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