Sam Altman, the chief executive officer of OpenAI, has hinted at the next release of the image-generation tool. In a post on X, he said, “Y’all are not ready for images v2… “ referring to much more advanced versions. However, Altman did not give a specific date or details about the specifications in the post.

The first version of the tool, built into ChatGPT, has already revolutionized the approach to creating visuals with AI. The expectation of ‘v2’ suggests improved creative capabilities and enhanced image generation.

During the past week, many ChatGPT users have been using their portraits and transforming the results into art pieces similar to the films from Studio Ghibli productions, such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. The stylized tool replicates the iconic hand-drawn aesthetic the Japanese studio is known for.

When users flocked into the tool to test it out, OpenAI experienced unplanned server lags and intermittent outages. In response, Altman took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “We are getting things under control, but you should expect new releases from OpenAI to be delayed, stuff to break, and for service to sometimes be slow as we deal with capacity challenges.”

According to SensorTower, there has been a rise in app downloads by 11% in the last week, and in-app purchases were up by 6%. Weekly active users even increased by 5%, according to the same source. Altman also pointed out that the platform had gained one million new users within an hour of posting this release, which had not happened since the initial ChatGPT release in December 2022.

Studio Ghibli’s legacy at the center of a new AI trend

Studio Ghibli is an animated-movie-studio that has been in operation since 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki and produces detailed hand-drawn animations with rich stories. Having produced 22 feature films to date, the studio also boasts one of the most easily recognizable visual styles in the field of animation. The name Ghibli originates from the Libyan Arabic topographical term describing a hot desert wind.

The new ChatGPT feature’s ability to closely mimic this distinctive artistic style has fueled its popularity but also introduced legal uncertainty. While the current copyright law covers copying individual artistic works instead of styles, legal analysts have weighed in on the dangers of imitating at this level of detail.

The recent viral AI art has stirred up some past remarks by Hayao Miyazaki. In an interview conducted in 2016, the renowned director criticized some AI artworks that were created at the time. “I am utterly disgusted,” Miyazaki said after viewing an AI-generated image.

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