OpenAI has temporarily suspended free access to its in-app image generator, powered by the GPT-4o reasoning model, just a day after its release. The decision follows a viral trend where users flooded social media with AI-generated images mimicking the style of Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese animation studio.
The update, designed to enhance realism in both text and images, quickly gained traction as users experimented with the technology. Many shared AI-generated pictures reimagining personal family photos in Studio Ghibli’s signature style. Others recreated famous scenes from the 2024 Paris Olympics, classic films such as The Godfather and Star Wars, and internet memes like the “distracted boyfriend” and “disaster girl.”
OpenAI CEO reacts to the viral trend
Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined the trend, updating his X profile picture to a Studio Ghibli-style version of himself. However, he soon announced on the platform that OpenAI would delay the image generator update for users on the free tier of ChatGPT. He did not specify whether or when the feature would return. The update remains available to paid subscribers on the Plus, Pro, and Team plans.
images in chatgpt are wayyyy more popular than we expected (and we had pretty high expectations).
— Sam Altman (@sama) March 26, 2025
rollout to our free tier is unfortunately going to be delayed for awhile.
GPT-4o’s image generation uses an “autoregressive approach,” meaning images are created gradually from left to right and top to bottom instead of appearing all at once. This process helps improve accuracy and realism, particularly for AI-generated text, which is often blurry or unreadable in older models. OpenAI also told The Wall Street Journal that it had fine-tuned the model through human-led post-launch training to reduce standard text and image rendering errors.
Legal and ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated art
The use of AI to replicate artistic styles has long raised legal and ethical questions. OpenAI previously disclosed the sources used to train its AI, but users’ interactions with the model remain unpredictable.
Intellectual property lawyer Evan Brown said that generating Studio Ghibli-style images does not necessarily break copyright laws, as “style is not explicitly protected by copyright.” However, it exists in a legal grey area. OpenAI has clarified that while ChatGPT can replicate a studio’s aesthetic, it does not emulate individual artists’ style.
To avoid potential legal issues, OpenAI has removed GPT-4o’s image generation from the free ChatGPT tier while considering its next steps. This is not the first time AI-generated content has sparked controversy. A previous AI trend in late 2023 allowed users to create Funko Pop! figures in Microsoft Designer. While many generated figures of themselves, others used the tool to recreate well-known figures such as Elon Musk and Beyoncé. Users had to use creative nicknames like “Elon X” and “Queen Bey” to bypass restrictions.
As AI-generated art continues to evolve, companies like OpenAI must navigate the fine line between innovation and copyright concerns. Whether or not GPT-4o’s free image generation will return remains uncertain, but for now, only paying users can access the tool.
