OpenAI's viral Studio Ghibli moment raises concerns about AI copyright issues

AI generates viral Studio Ghibli-style images, sparking copyright concerns.

: OpenAI's new image generator has led to a wave of social media posts featuring Studio Ghibli-style images of public figures, raising legal questions. Concerns arise regarding the copyright implications of training AI models on existing art without clear permissions. Lawsuits against OpenAI and others highlight the ongoing debate about fair use in AI. Despite the legal gray area, OpenAI's tools are highly capable, driving significant user engagement.

OpenAI's new AI image generator has triggered a social media frenzy with users creating memes in the iconic style of Studio Ghibli. This has raised significant legal questions about AI's ability to replicate copyrighted art styles. Evan Brown, an expert in intellectual property law at Neal & McDevitt, notes that style alone isn't a protected category under copyright law, potentially placing OpenAI's activities in a legal gray area. However, the possibility that OpenAI trained its AI using frames from Ghibli's films without explicit permission remains contentious.

OpenAI's new feature comes shortly after Google's introduction of a similar image tool in its Gemini Flash model, which also went viral for its watermark removal capabilities. Together, these advancements have sparked renewed discussions about the ethical use of AI for generating art in the style of copyrighted works. The fundamental question lingers: Does training AI on copyrighted material constitute an infringement, and what falls under fair use?

Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, appears to have embraced the technology by adapting a Ghibli-style image as his profile picture. Meanwhile, a spokesperson shared that while ChatGPT avoids replicating the style of individual living artists, broader studio styles are not restricted. Nonetheless, some artists, including Studio Ghibli's co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, have become celebrated for their distinctive studio-associated styles, further complicating the legal discourse.

The entertainment industry has taken notice. Multiple publishers, including The New York Times, have engaged in lawsuits against AI entities like OpenAI, accusing them of utilizing copyrighted material without due acknowledgement or compensation. Midjourney, a burgeoning AI startup, and Meta also face similar litigation.

A multitude of AI image generators, like those found in Google's Gemini and xAI's Grok, have been put to the test against OpenAI's tool. Test results show OpenAI's generator delivers the most convincing renditions of Studio Ghibli's trademark aesthetic. Yet, with high demand for such innovative tools, legal rulings will ultimately determine their future operation and legitimacy.

Sources: TechCrunch, The Verge, Neal & McDevitt, The New York Times

Generative AIEntertainmentethics