OpenAI’s New Image Generator Sparks Controversy as Users Test Its Limits
Early adopters of OpenAI’s latest image-generation tool are pushing its boundaries, with some results stirring debate.
Reports indicate that ChatGPT has accepted requests to generate violent or controversial images, including animated depictions of real-world events such as the death of George Floyd and the Elián González raid—rendered in a style resembling Studio Ghibli’s animation. (Viewer discretion is advised when accessing these images.)
OpenAI acknowledges that the system has built-in moderation but declined to elaborate on why certain requests were approved. A company spokesperson stated, “Yes, there are limits on what people can create. Please refer to the section titled ‘Imagery that is violent, abusive, or hateful’ in our system card for further details on these policies.”
According to OpenAI’s guidelines, users can generate non-photorealistic depictions of public figures unless those individuals opt out. However, some users have managed to create surprisingly lifelike images, including one of former President Donald Trump embracing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, despite no indication that Trump opted out of AI-generated images.
One workaround appears to be animation. Many users are requesting images in a style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, the renowned studio behind Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. While OpenAI claims it avoids directly replicating copyrighted artistic styles, it does allow for images “inspired by” that aesthetic.
When asked to generate an image “in the style of Studio Ghibli,” ChatGPT declined, citing copyright concerns. However, it did offer an alternative that mimicked the studio’s whimsical, hand-drawn aesthetic.
Interestingly, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has embraced the trend, updating his profile picture on X (formerly Twitter) to a Studio Ghibli-inspired portrait. In a rare personal post, Altman reflected on his journey, noting how public perception shifted from apathy to criticism, and now to widespread engagement—particularly with images of himself in the Ghibli style.
Later, Altman hinted that the viral popularity of these animated images may have been part of OpenAI’s strategy to market its image-generation capabilities.
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