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OpenAI's Free GPT-4o Image Tool Drives Record User Growth

The viral Studio Ghibli-style art trend has propelled unprecedented demand, straining OpenAI's infrastructure and raising copyright concerns.

Sam Altman joined the trend by sharing a Ghibli-style image of himself (L) and a pic created by an X user (R).
The frenzy to use the new Studio Ghibli image-generation tool led to a record surge in users for ChatGPT.
open ai and chatgpt logo on phone
Image

Overview

  • OpenAI's GPT-4o image generation feature is now available to free-tier users with a daily limit of three images to manage demand.
  • The feature's ability to create Studio Ghibli-style artwork has gone viral, leading to one million new users in a single hour on March 31, 2025.
  • The surge in user activity has overwhelmed OpenAI's GPU infrastructure, prompting temporary usage limits and optimization efforts.
  • OpenAI recently secured $40 billion in funding, valuing the company at $300 billion, to support its growth and address resource challenges.
  • The trend has reignited debates about copyright and ethical concerns, with Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki's past criticisms of AI art resurfacing.