ChatGPT Faces Slowdowns as Ghibli-Style AI Art Frenzy Overwhelms OpenAI

The internet is abuzz with Ghibli-style AI-generated art, fueled by OpenAI’s latest GPT-4o image generation feature. As users rush to experiment with this trend, ChatGPT is struggling to keep up, leading to performance issues and temporary restrictions. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has responded, warning users to brace for delays.

Sam Altman Responds to ChatGPT’s Struggles
As OpenAI grapples with a surge in demand, CEO Sam Altman admitted that the platform is facing significant strain. “We are getting things under control, but expect delays in new releases, occasional system failures, and slower service as we navigate capacity challenges,” he shared on X.

Injecting some humor into the situation, Altman jokingly appealed for additional GPU resources, saying, “If anyone has GPU capacity in 100k chunks we can get asap, please call!”

ChatGPT’s User Base Hits New Milestones
The popularity of AI-generated Ghibli-style art has propelled ChatGPT’s user base to record-breaking numbers. To cope with the overwhelming demand, OpenAI has had to limit image generation requests temporarily.

Data from Similarweb reveals that ChatGPT has surpassed 150 million weekly active users for the first time in 2025. Altman also noted that the platform gained a million users within just an hour—a significant leap from the five days it previously took to reach that mark after launching GPT-4o’s image generation capabilities.

Market intelligence firm SensorTower further reported that following OpenAI’s latest enhancements, ChatGPT saw an 11% surge in downloads, a 5% rise in active users, and a 6% increase in in-app revenue.

As OpenAI works to expand its infrastructure, the craze for AI-generated imagery—particularly in beloved animation styles like Studio Ghibli—continues to push the technology to new limits.