OpenAI and the AI Trend Mimicking Studio Ghibli's Style

In the past few days, OpenAI launched the AI image generation feature in ChatGPT, which quickly gained popularity. With over 130 million users creating more than 700 million images in just one week! However, what made this feature go viral is not just its capabilities, but the fact that AI can create images that closely resemble the works of Studio Ghibli. This has led to debates about copyright and the ethics of using AI in art.

OpenAI and the AI Trend Mimicking Studio Ghibli's Style

Studio Ghibli Fans Strongly Oppose AI Art

Although legendary Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, 84, has not commented on the matter, his fans on the Ghibli subreddit have made their stance clear: "We do not allow AI-generated art to be posted in our community." They argue that using AI to mimic Ghibli's style is not honoring the artist, but rather directly infringing on copyrights because these AI models are trained using copyrighted images without the creators' consent.

"We do not allow AI art to be posted, and we never have since AI became known," said the moderators of the Ghibli subreddit.

AI and Copyright Issues: A Growing Concern

The issue of AI replicating artwork is not new. Previously, companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Midjourney have been sued by publishers such as The New York Times and numerous creators because AI models were trained using copyrighted material without permission In the case of Studio Ghibli, the issue is even clearer as Miyazaki himself has expressed a strong opposition to AI. In a 2016 documentary, he said:

"I look at this and I have no interest at all. The people who create this stuff have no understanding of the 'pain' of creating art. It disgusts me."

Technology and Ethics: Which Direction Should We Take?

OpenAI's AI feature has become extremely popular, raising important questions about the boundary between technological advancement and respect for copyright and art. Currently, copyright law remains a topic of debate: is it illegal to train AI using copyrighted images without permission? Some intellectual property lawyers argue that an artist's "style" may not be protected by copyright law. However, if AI is trained using original images directly, it could constitute copyright infringement.

How Will OpenAI Handle This Drama?

As OpenAI's AI feature gains immense popularity, the company is facing pressure regarding copyright issues. Meanwhile, courts have yet to decide whether training AI on copyrighted data is illegal, making this an ongoing issue to watch.

Sources: TechCrunch, Reddit, Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World