OpenAI's Viral Studio Ghibli Moment Highlights AI Copyright Concerns - Slashdot
Mar 27, 2025 - slashdot.org
A recent report from TechCrunch highlights the rapid proliferation of AI-generated images in the style of Studio Ghibli, following the release of ChatGPT's new AI image generator. Social media has been inundated with these images, depicting figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump in the iconic animation style. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, has even adopted a Studio Ghibli-style image as his profile picture. This development comes shortly after Google's Gemini Flash model introduced a similar feature, raising concerns about the ease of replicating copyrighted styles through simple text prompts.
The legal implications of these AI tools are currently ambiguous. Evan Brown, an intellectual property lawyer, notes that while style itself isn't protected by copyright, the methods used to achieve these likenesses might involve training on copyrighted material, which is a contentious issue. Courts are still deliberating whether such training constitutes fair use. This situation underscores ongoing debates about copyright infringement and the legality of using copyrighted works to train generative AI models.
Key takeaways:
ChatGPT's new AI image generator is creating viral AI-generated memes in the style of Studio Ghibli.
OpenAI's and Google's new AI tools raise concerns about re-creating copyrighted styles and potential copyright law violations.
Style is not explicitly protected by copyright, placing AI-generated images in a legal gray area.
Courts are still deciding if training AI models on copyrighted works falls under fair use protections.
