OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has responded to the growing backlash over AI-generated art, particularly the viral trend of Studio Ghibli-style images created using GPT-4o, calling the broader impact of the technology “a big net win for society.” His remarks, made during a podcast interview with Indian entrepreneur Varun Mayya, address rising concerns about artistic theft, job displacement, and the future of creative industries.
AI-Ghibli Trend Sparks Online Uproar
The controversy erupted after OpenAI integrated native image generation into ChatGPT via its GPT-4o model. Soon after the feature went live, the internet was flooded with AI-generated images mimicking the distinctive hand-drawn style of Japan’s iconic animation house, Studio Ghibli. While Ghibli itself has not commented, an old clip of co-founder Hayao Miyazaki resurfaced, in which he described a computer-generated animation experiment as “an insult to life itself.” The video reignited debates about the ethical and legal boundaries of AI art. Altman responded to the criticism by acknowledging the harm AI can cause, but insisted that the overall outcome remains positive. “There are negative things about it for sure… but on the whole, it’s been a win,” he said.
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‘Democratising Creativity’
Altman framed AI-generated art as a technological leap that lowers barriers to entry in creative work. “Giving everyone more tools, making things easier, lowering the barriers to entry, does significantly increase the number of people that can contribute to society,” he said. He compared the present AI wave to earlier shifts that allowed smaller players to enter tech, noting that OpenAI itself would not have existed if such changes hadn’t occurred.
However, he conceded that this democratization isn’t without cost. “It doesn’t mean that it [AI art] doesn’t cause some job loss,” Altman admitted. “Some people who had a sort of differential ability to do something now have a lot more competition.” Critics argue that AI models have been trained on artists’ original work without consent, creating tools that now compete with the very creators they learned from. This issue, they say, cuts to the heart of the AI art debate.
Coding, Productivity, and Job Shifts
Beyond art, Altman discussed how AI could reshape the broader job market. “It’ll be different for different kinds of jobs,” he said. While some roles may disappear entirely, others will be enhanced. “Mostly, I think it’ll be a case of a new tool where people are just much more productive.” He believes coders could become “10 times more productive” within a year or two, though he warned this may reduce the market value of individual tasks due to increased output — a dynamic he likened to Jevons Paradox.
India Emerges as a Key AI Hub
Altman also highlighted India as OpenAI’s fastest-growing market. “India was one of the first markets outside the US that really jumped on AI in a huge, huge way,” he said. Since the launch of GPT-4o’s image generator, over 700 million images have been produced, with more than a billion expected soon.
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Although OpenAI is exploring ways to reduce ChatGPT subscription costs in price-sensitive markets like India, Altman noted that high compute expenses remain a challenge for now. Altman closed with a tempered outlook, saying that while the societal shift due to AI has been real, it hasn’t been as dramatic as initially expected. Still, he encouraged entrepreneurs to innovate fearlessly, adding, “Go do your crazy idea.”
