A debate over the painting styles implemented by AI, which have become trendy recently, is ongoing.
Following the release of OpenAI’s "ChatGPT-4o Image Generation," illustrations in the style of Studio Ghibli have been spreading like a trend across domestic and international internet communities and social media.
According to the mobile index of the data platform AIworks, as of the 27th of last month, the daily active users of ChatGPT in South Korea reached a record-high 1,252,925. This marks the highest number recorded two weeks after surpassing the 1 million mark on the 10th of last month, indicating that the newly launched image generation AI model "ChatGPT-4o Image Generation" has led to a surge in users.
Many celebrities have joined this trend. Celebrities including the couple Kang Jae-jun and Lee Eun-hyung, Song Ji-eun and Park Wi, Hong Seok-cheon, Jeon Hyun-moo, Park Seul-ki, Lee Hyun-i, the couple Lee Ji-hoon and Ayane, Kim Sung-eun, Nam Bo-ra, Oh Sang-jin, Seol Ha-yoon, Jang Seung-kyu, Eun Ga-eun, Super Junior's Lee Teuk, CNBLUE's Lee Jung-shin, Solji, Son Dam-bi, Lee Da-eun, Heo Kyung-hwan, Kim Dong-jun, Chaerina, Kim Young-hee, Maeng Seung-ji, Lee Ji-hye, and Nam Bo-ra have all hopped on the so-called "Ghibli-style AI" trend and shared their images on social media. Not only celebrities, but also ordinary people are joining this trend by changing their profile pictures on mobile messengers, and the trend is spreading.
There are ongoing criticisms in the industry. The issue of copyright infringement due to AI image generation features has emerged as a topic. As images in the styles of specific contents like Ghibli, The Simpsons, and LEGO spread widely on social media, concerns have been raised that OpenAI may have infringed on the copyrights of the original studios and directors. While specific painting styles are not protected by copyright, there are analyses suggesting that if certain content is utilized in the AI training process, acts of reproduction of copyrighted works could occur.
Megumi Ishitani, the director of the famous Japanese animation "One Piece," stated on the 1st, "I will never forgive them for tarnishing the name of Ghibli. I want to take legal action. I can no longer watch Ghibli animations being treated so cheaply," and a day later on the 2nd, raised her voice by saying, "Is there any Japanese person using Ghibli AI? It’s despairing. This act could damage the value of the Ghibli brand. There’s no way Ghibli would have officially permitted this. Why is the unauthorized use of these images allowed?"
Henry Sarou, an animation director known for works such as "One Piece," "Naruto," and "Pokémon," said on the 28th of last month, "I don’t know what those making Ghibli images with AI are gaining. Apart from offending and angering the original artists, they won’t gain anything. Those who say this ‘democratizes’ art are just deceiving themselves," and pointed out, "Just as not everyone can become an Olympic athlete, becoming a great artist or director requires lifelong effort. That never changes."
Japan Times reported that "As the Ghibli-style images generated by ChatGPT spread virally, copyright issues are being raised. OpenAI is actively lobbying the White House and Congress to try to include the use of copyrighted content by AI corporations in fair use principles," while Forbes criticized that "AI is continuing to advance in a direction that devastates all fields of creation."
Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder of Ghibli, criticized AI images as "an insult to human life" in a 2016 NHK documentary, and amidst this, some argue that as long as it’s not used commercially, there should be no problem. Japanese cultural critic Kenichi Nakamura stated in a radio interview, "Even if AI technology imitates and draws in the Ghibli style, it does not embody the 'spirit' of Ghibli."
So far, Ghibli has not released a stance regarding this issue. However, an IT media outlet in the U.S. reported that "Ghibli may soon sue OpenAI for copyright infringement," and the outcome is being closely watched.
[OSEN]