OpenAI’s ChatGPT faced widespread outages as an overwhelming number of users attempted to generate Studio Ghibli-style animated avatars using the chatbot’s new AI image feature. The internet was flooded with images inspired by the distinctive hand-drawn animation style of legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, known for classics like Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron. The surge in demand led to a system overload, causing disruptions for users worldwide, with outage tracker DownDetector logging hundreds of complaints about ChatGPT’s unavailability.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the massive traffic spike, joking that their “GPUs are melting” under the strain. He announced temporary rate limits to stabilize the platform, restricting free-tier users to three image generations per day. Despite these limitations, the trend of AI-generated Ghibli-style images continued to dominate social media, with users sharing their artistic renditions and fueling the viral craze. Critics, however, questioned the ethical implications, with some calling it an “insult to life,” referencing past statements from Studio Ghibli’s co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki, who has expressed skepticism about AI-generated art.
The outage highlighted the growing popularity of AI-generated visuals and the increasing strain on computational resources required to support such features. While OpenAI works on optimizing its systems, the debate around AI’s role in creative industries remains heated. Meanwhile, users continue to push the limits of AI artistry, eager to explore the intersection of technology and animation.
