The internet has been buzzing with a new trend—generating Studio Ghibli-style images in just a few prompts. While this has captivated users worldwide, it has also put immense pressure on OpenAI’s graphics processing units (GPUs).

As the demand for anime-style image generation skyrocketed, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed the issue on social media. On Thursday, he stated that their GPUs are “melting” due to the overwhelming usage.

Related News

“it’s super fun seeing people love images in chatgpt. but our GPUs are melting. we are going to temporarily introduce some rate limits while we work on making it more efficient. hopefully won’t be long! chatgpt free tier will get 3 generations per day soon.” Altman stated in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter).

Studio Ghibli AI Art Trend

OpenAI recently introduced its most advanced image-creation tool to the latest ChatGPT-4o update. The new tool allows individuals to create images in the distinctive style of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio behind Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, among other classics.

The distinctive animation style, which was pioneered by legendary director and animator Hayao Miyazaki, is defined by hand-drawn frames, serene aesthetics, and dreamy landscapes with a muted color palette. Miyazaki’s work has earned critical acclaim, including two Oscar wins for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron.

Since the launch of the feature, the web has been overwhelmed with AI-compiled Ghibli-style images. Most people are either applying this style to their own existing photos or entirely producing new photos based on a basic prompt. Others do appreciate the novelty, but others argue that the trend undermines an art style honed over decades.

While ChatGPT’s image generation option becomes increasingly popular, OpenAI has been working to optimize how it utilizes GPU and limiting access to the feature in the short term.