OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, has experienced a record-breaking surge in users following the release of its image-generation tool, which has been used to create AI art in the style of Studio Ghibli. The feature, inspired by the iconic Japanese animation studio founded by Hayao Miyazaki, has seen an average weekly active user base breach 150 million for the first time this year.
According to data from market research firm Similarweb, ChatGPT added one million new users in just one hour following the update, compared to the addition of one million users over five days when the chatbot was launched more than two years ago. The AI company’s GPT-4o model now enables advanced image generation capabilities.
However, this surge in popularity has led to technical issues and capacity challenges for ChatGPT, with glitches and low-scale outages reported by users. OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman acknowledged the strain on servers, stating that users can expect delays and service disruptions as the company deals with the increased traffic.
The use of ChatGPT’s image tool for the Ghibli effect has also raised questions about potential copyright violations. Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki previously expressed his distaste for AI-generated images, stating he would never incorporate such technology into his work.
As OpenAI navigates these challenges, it remains to be seen how this feature will impact its overall user base and revenue streams in the long term.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/ghibli-effect-chatgpt-usage-hits-record-after-rollout-viral-feature-2025-04-01