ChatGPT hits record usage after viral Ghibli feature—Here are four risks to know first

Studio Ghibli-Inspired AI Art Triggers ChatGPT Surge – and a Wave of Legal, Privacy Concerns

ChatGPT’s new image-generation tool has sparked a massive wave of user activity, fueled by a viral trend: turning photos into artworks styled after Studio Ghibli’s iconic animation. The tool’s release drove ChatGPT to record usage levels, briefly straining OpenAI’s infrastructure.

Social media platforms quickly filled with AI-generated images reminiscent of Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. According to Similarweb, ChatGPT surpassed 150 million weekly active users—its highest number this year. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed the chatbot gained one million users in a single hour in early April, matching the five-day growth rate seen when ChatGPT first launched.

Data from SensorTower backs the trend: following the GPT-4o update, which introduced image-generation capabilities, app downloads rose 11%, active users increased 5%, and in-app revenue climbed 6% compared to late March.

However, the surge caused performance slowdowns and occasional outages, prompting OpenAI to acknowledge capacity issues and caution users about possible delays.

Legal Storm Brewing Over Ghibli-Style AI Art

The flood of Ghibli-style AI images has raised copyright concerns. While artistic “styles” aren’t usually protected under law, copying a distinctive aesthetic may fall into a legal grey area.

“The legal landscape of AI-generated images mimicking Studio Ghibli’s distinctive style is an uncertain terrain,” said Evan Brown, partner at law firm Neal & McDevitt. “Copyright law has generally protected only specific expressions rather than artistic styles themselves.”

Meanwhile, past comments from Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki have resurfaced. In 2016, he expressed strong opposition to AI-generated art, saying:

“I am utterly disgusted. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.”

OpenAI has not confirmed whether its image models were trained on data similar to Ghibli’s work.

Rising Privacy Concerns Around Uploaded Photos

Beyond copyright, the trend has reignited privacy debates, especially around biometric data.
Christoph C. Cemper, founder of AI prompt platform AIPRM, warned that uploading personal images might come with risks many users overlook.

“When you upload a photo, you’re handing over your facial data. Some platforms may store, reuse, or even sell that data—often without users realizing it,” said Cemper.

OpenAI’s privacy policy states it collects user-submitted content, including images, and uses it to improve its models—unless users manually opt out or request deletion. Cemper cautioned that once uploaded, facial data could be vulnerable to scraping, leaks, deepfakes, or identity fraud.

He cited prior incidents, such as private images found in public training sets like LAION-5B, which feed into popular models like Stable Diffusion.

Copyright, Licensing, and User Control

As AI-generated content increasingly mimics brands like Studio Ghibli, Disney, or Pixar, legal experts warn that closely copying these styles may be seen as producing derivative works, potentially infringing copyright.

In 2022, several artists launched a class-action lawsuit against AI companies, alleging their work was used to train models without consent—highlighting the tension between technological innovation and creator rights.

Cemper also encouraged users to read the fine print before using AI tools, noting that many platforms include sweeping terms like “transferable,” “irrevocable,” or “non-exclusive licenses” that grant companies the right to reproduce or distribute content—even after a user deletes the app.

“The rollout of ChatGPT’s image generator shows how easily AI can replicate beloved visual styles,” said Cemper. “But with that power comes risk—blurring the lines between creativity and copyright, and exposing personal data to misuse.”

Creativity vs. Caution

Searches for “ChatGPT Studio Ghibli” have skyrocketed over 1,200% in the past week, as millions embrace the tool’s creative potential. But alongside the fun comes a growing chorus of concern over privacy, copyright, and data transparency.

As AI tools become more powerful and accessible, experts suggest users should think twice before uploading personal images—especially if they’re unsure where the data might end up or how it might be used.