In just 24 hours, social media platforms have been flooded with AI-generated memes in the style of Studio Ghibli, the beloved Japanese animation studio, thanks to the latest update from OpenAI's ChatGPT. The new AI image generator, which allows users to recreate images in various styles, has sparked a viral moment, with users uploading existing images and asking the chatbot to recreate them in new styles.

The update comes on the heels of Google's release of a similar AI image feature in its Gemini Flash model, which also went viral earlier in March when users used it to remove watermarks from images. The new tools from OpenAI and Google make it easier than ever to recreate the styles of copyrighted works, simply by typing a text prompt. However, this ease of use raises concerns at the core of several lawsuits against generative AI model developers.

According to IP lawyer Evan Brown, products like GPT-4o's native image generator operate in a legal grey area today. While style is not explicitly protected by copyright, Brown notes that it's plausible that OpenAI achieved this likeness by training its model on millions of frames from Ghibli's films. The question remains whether training AI models on copyrighted works falls under fair use protections, with several courts still deciding on the matter.

The New York Times and several publishers are currently in active lawsuits against OpenAI, claiming the company trained its AI models on copyrighted works without proper attribution or payment. Similar claims have been brought in lawsuits against other leading AI companies, including Meta and AI image generation startup, Midjourney. An OpenAI spokesperson stated that while ChatGPT refuses to replicate "the style of individual living artists," OpenAI does permit it to replicate "broader studio styles."

Users have also been able to use GPT-4o's native image generation feature to recreate styles from other studios and artists, such as Dr. Seuss and Pixar. In testing several popular AI image generators, including ones available in Google's Gemini, xAI's Grok, and Playground.ai, we found OpenAI's new image generator to be the most accurate to Studio Ghibli's style by far.

The surge in usage of these new image features has led to a significant increase in demand, with OpenAI delaying the rollout of its new image tool to free-tier users on Wednesday. While the technology presents a leap forward in what AI models can generate, the legality of these tools remains a pressing concern. As the courts weigh in on the matter, it's clear that the implications of these AI image generators will be far-reaching and closely watched.

For now, the focus remains on the creative possibilities these tools offer, with users continuing to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI-generated images. However, as the legal landscape surrounding generative AI models continues to evolve, it's essential to consider the potential consequences of training on copyrighted works and the need for proper attribution and payment.