OpenAI’s ChatGPT has taken the internet by storm once again—this time, with its built-in image generation feature that debuted last week. Since its rollout, the feature has driven a viral trend of Studio Ghibli-style artwork, capturing the imagination of users worldwide. Leading the charge in this AI creativity boom is India, now emerging as ChatGPT’s fastest-growing market.
OpenAI’s Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap shared jaw-dropping figures on social media platform X, revealing that more than 130 million users have created a staggering 700 million images in just one week. Echoing this momentum, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised India’s meteoric adoption of AI tools, calling it “an explosion of creativity” and noting that the country is “outpacing the world.”
Altman also highlighted how OpenAI’s growth has accelerated beyond previous records, recalling that ChatGPT gained one million users within an hour—compared to the one month it took after its initial launch in 2022.
So what’s different about the new image generation tool?
While ChatGPT already featured image creation via the DALL·E 3 model, the latest update integrates this functionality directly into GPT-4o, the advanced model powering the chatbot. This change enables users to create images faster and with greater stylistic control—without needing to rely on separate tools.
This seamless experience has not only improved output speed but also sparked a global fascination with generating AI art in iconic styles, especially the nostalgic charm of Studio Ghibli. From whimsical cityscapes to dreamy characters, users have flooded social media with their AI-generated Ghibli-inspired creations.
Surge in Use Brings Growing Pains
The feature’s popularity has not been without its challenges. OpenAI has experienced multiple service outages since the update, as demand overwhelmed its GPU resources. Altman admitted the strain has taken a toll on the team, which has been working tirelessly to stabilize the platform.
Due to these “capacity challenges,” OpenAI has acknowledged that new features may face delays, and users might experience slower performance at times.
Despite the hurdles, the enthusiasm remains unshaken. With India leading the creative wave and global interest showing no signs of slowing down, ChatGPT’s new capabilities are reshaping how people interact with AI—and redefining the boundaries of digital imagination.
