OpenAI has announced that its improved image generation feature, powered by the GPT-4o model, is now available to all ChatGPT users, including those on the free tier. This development comes after the company initially delayed the rollout beyond its paid tiers due to high demand.

The image generation update, which has gone viral for its ability to produce uncanny recreations of Studio Ghibli art, was initially launched on March 25th. However, the free rollout was delayed just a day after launch, with CEO Sam Altman joking that "our GPUs are melting" due to the overwhelming demand. At one point, ChatGPT picked up a million new users in a single hour.

According to Altman, the free tier will have limited access to image generation, with users allowed to generate three images per day. This limitation is likely intended to prevent abuse and ensure that the feature remains available to all users.

The rollout of the image generation feature to all users comes on the heels of OpenAI's massive $40 billion funding round, which saw the company's valuation soar to $300 billion. This funding will likely be used to further develop and improve ChatGPT's capabilities, including its image generation feature.

The improved image generation feature is a significant development in the field of AI-generated art, and its availability to all users could have significant implications for the creative industry. With the ability to generate high-quality images with ease, artists, designers, and content creators may find new ways to incorporate AI-generated art into their work.

However, the increased accessibility of AI-generated art also raises questions about the potential impact on human artists and the creative industry as a whole. As AI-generated art becomes more sophisticated and widely available, it remains to be seen how it will affect the job market and the way we consume and interact with art.

For now, users can access the improved image generation feature on ChatGPT, and experiment with creating their own Studio Ghibli-style art. With the feature's availability to all users, it will be interesting to see how the creative community responds and what new and innovative uses they find for this technology.