ChatGPT overloaded as users rush to create studio Ghibli-inspired images

OpenAI’s ChatGPT experienced widespread outages as users flooded the platform to generate Studio Ghibli-style animated images, thanks to a new update in GPT-4o’s image generation tool.

A Ghibli-Inspired Internet Frenzy

The internet is buzzing with memes, reimagined scenes, and AI-generated portraits in the signature hand-drawn style of legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki. Films like Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron have inspired a new wave of AI creativity—but the surge in demand has taken a toll on OpenAI’s servers.

Outage tracker DownDetector reported over 229 complaints, with 59% of them related to ChatGPT accessibility issues. Many users took to social media to express their frustration and amusement at the downtime.

‘GPUs Are Melting,’ Says OpenAI CEO

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the craze, admitting that the company’s hardware is struggling to keep up.

"It’s super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT, but our GPUs are melting," Altman posted on X. He also announced temporary rate limits, restricting free-tier users to three image generations per day while the company works on optimization.

Netizens React to the ChatGPT Outage

Social media was flooded with humorous takes on the outage.

"How do I explain to my professor that I missed my deadline because ChatGPT is down?" one user joked.

Another posted, "I feel so alone. It’s crazy how much space ChatGPT has taken in my life."

Miyazaki’s Criticism Resurfaces

While OpenAI embraces the “Ghiblification” trend, a resurfaced 2016 video of Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki offers a stark contrast. In the clip, the animation master reacts to an AI-generated demonstration with strong disapproval.

"I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself," Miyazaki said in the video, reinforcing his long-standing stance against AI in animation.

The Debate Continues

With AI-powered creativity becoming more accessible, the debate over artistic integrity and technological advancement rages on. Is AI-generated art an exciting new frontier or a threat to traditional craftsmanship? As ChatGPT's image generation capabilities expand, this conversation is only just beginning.