The latest image creation tool from OpenAI’s ChatGPT has sparked a surge of memes showcasing visuals in the style of Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese studio responsible for beloved animated features like My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke.

The popularity of these images has led to concerns about copyright violations by OpenAI, which is already dealing with lawsuits regarding unauthorized use of original content.

Since its launch, AI-generated images reimagining various public figures and scenes in a Studio Ghibli style have gone viral on numerous online platforms.

The White House joined in on the trend by sharing a Ghibli-style image on X, formerly known as Twitter.

OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, updated his profile picture on X to reflect this style and noted that the immense success of the new generator was unforeseen, meaning it will currently be available only to paid users.

This latest iteration is powered by GPT-4o, the company’s most advanced model, enabling users to achieve intricate results through concise prompts.

A 2016 video recently resurfaced featuring acclaimed Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki expressing his intense aversion to artificial intelligence, calling it an affront to life itself.

OpenAI is currently facing several lawsuits related to copyright infringement, including actions from the New York Times and various artists, musicians, and publishers.

The organization is advocating with the White House and Congress to incorporate the use of copyrighted materials by AI firms into the fair use doctrine.

Fair use currently covers search engines and online satire or memes, permitting companies to utilize copyrighted works without obtaining permission.

OpenAI has forecasted that its annual revenue could surpass $12.7 billion by 2025, up from an anticipated $3.7 billion for this year.