Key Highlights:

• ChatGPT reached one million users in just one hour after launching a Ghibli-style image generator.
• OpenAI faced server strain and capacity challenges due to overwhelming user interest.
• The surge in activity raised questions about potential copyright issues related to Ghibli’s art style.

OpenAI's ChatGPT has made headlines this week after a report by India Times revealed that the platform gained a stunning one million users within just one hour following the rollout of its Ghibli-style image generation feature. This unprecedented surge was confirmed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who likened it to the platform's initial launch, which saw one million users sign up in five days.

Thanks to the hype surrounding this new feature, which allows users to create enchanting visuals inspired by Studio Ghibli's iconic style, average weekly active users surpassed 150 million for the first time this year, according to data from Similarweb. Users worldwide have engaged with the tool enthusiastically, flooding social media with their creations from famous Studio Ghibli films like "Spirited Away" and "My Neighbor Totoro." However, the explosive popularity has strained OpenAI's servers, leading to temporary limitations on the feature's availability.

As user activity surged, Altman noted that the company's GPUs were "melting" due to the demand for image generations. He stated on X (formerly Twitter), "It's super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT. But our GPUs are melting," prompting OpenAI to implement temporary rate limits while they addressed efficiency issues. Altman advised users to expect potential delays and issues with new releases as the team worked to stabilize the service base.

Amid this excitement over AI-generated art, there are growing legal concerns surrounding copyright violations. "The legal landscape of AI-generated images mimicking Studio Ghibli's distinctive style is an uncertain terrain," remarked Evan Brown, a partner at the law firm Neal & McDevitt. Discussions resurfaced about comments made by Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki back in 2016 when he expressed his distaste for AI-generated images.

While OpenAI continues to navigate the impact of this viral trend, the company also saw a significant increase in app downloads and in-app subscription revenue. Reuters reports that in-app purchases increased by 6%, demonstrating the trend's positive effect on OpenAI's overall business health.

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