Hayao Miyazaki Once Called AI an “Insult to Life.” OpenAI Technicality Has People Copying His Style in Viral Trend

Hayao Miyazaki Once Called AI an “Insult to Life.” OpenAI Technicality Has People Copying His Style in Viral Trend

by Danica Davidson
March 31, 2025

OpenAI’s GPT-4o generative AI model is being described as its “most advanced image generator yet” by the company, and making Studio Ghibli-style AI images took off in recent days.

OpenAI wrote, “We added a refusal which triggers when a user attempts to generate an image in the style of a living artist.” So how are they able to copy this style? After some time went by, it clarified this technicality: it “permits broader studio styles — which people have used to generate and share some truly delightful and inspired original fan creations.”

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, even joined in on the viral sensation by sharing an AI image of himself in the Studio Ghibli style.

So far Studio Ghibli itself hasn’t responded publicly — though, unless he’s changed his mind, Hayao Miyazaki is anti-AI. While seeing an AI demo some years back, he complained about how technology has no understanding of what pain is, and said that he thought AI was “an insult to life itself.” He even went as far as to say, “I feel like we are nearing the end of times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves…”

Hayao Miyazaki’s thoughts on an artificial intelligence

GKIDS, Studio Ghibli’s North American distributor, didn’t outright comment on the viral trend, but it managed to knock it while talking about Princess Mononoke being back in theaters. “In a time when technology tries to replicate humanity, we are thrilled that audiences value a theatrical experience that respects and celebrates Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece in all its cinematic hand-drawn glory,” said Chance Huskey, the vice president of distribution for GKIDS.

Online responses to the trend range from people having a lot fun making Studio Ghibli AI images of themselves or movies or memes, to people worried that this could hurt copyright holders (in this case, Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli), to people who are horrified by it on principle, especially considering its lack of respect for using Miyazaki’s work when he came out so strongly against the technology.

Source: ANN

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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.