Los Angeles, Calif. – Fans of Studio Ghibli were recently thrilled when a new version of ChatGPT allowed them to transform internet memes or personal photos into the style of Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki. This trend, however, has brought up ethical concerns about artificial intelligence tools trained on copyrighted creative works and the potential impact on human artists’ livelihoods. Miyazaki, known for his hand-drawn approach and whimsical storytelling, has shown skepticism towards AI’s role in animation.
Janu Lingeswaran, an entrepreneur from Germany, uploaded a photo of his cat into ChatGPT’s image generator tool and was pleased with the Ghibli-style anime image that was created. Other users took iconic images or popular memes and gave them the Ghibli treatment, resulting in unique and creative adaptations. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has largely supported these experiments and even its CEO changed his profile picture to a Ghibli-style portrait.
Studio Ghibli in Japan declined to comment on the trend, as users shared their Ghibli-style images on social media platforms. The company behind ChatGPT stated that its new tool takes a “conservative approach” in mimicking the aesthetics of individual artists. However, concerns were raised about whether the AI model was trained on Miyazaki’s or Studio Ghibli’s work without proper licensing or permission.
Attorney Josh Weigensberg highlighted the issue of whether the AI art was created with consent and compensation, emphasizing the importance of protecting artists’ work and livelihoods. Artist Karla Ortiz, who is suing other AI image generators for copyright infringement, expressed dismay over how companies like OpenAI utilize Ghibli’s branding without considering the impact on artists. Ortiz was particularly outraged when the White House joined the meme trend and posted a Ghibli-style image on its official account, drawing further criticism.
The debate surrounding the use of AI in art creation continues to raise questions about copyright, licensing, and the ethical implications of replicating artistic styles without permission. As technology advances, it is crucial to consider the rights and livelihoods of artists who may be affected by the widespread use of AI in creative industries. The intersection of art, technology, and ethics remains a complex and evolving issue in today’s digital age.