OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has defended AI-generated art as a "big net win for society" following criticism from Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki , who once described AI animation as "an insult to life itself."
In a recent interview with YouTuber Varun Mayya , Altman acknowledged the downsides of AI art but maintained that its overall effect has been positive. "It has not been a complete win. There are negative things about it for sure, and certainly it did something about the art form," Altman said.
Miyazaki’s comments came to light after internet users across the world started a viral trend of posting AI-generated images mimicking Studio Ghibli 's distinctive animation style. The trend started with OpenAI’s ChatGPT release of image generation feature with the GPT-4o upgrade, and users quickly filled social media with "Ghiblified" versions of photos, ranging from family portraits to historical events.
Altman responds to critics of AI-generated art
"Giving everyone more tools, making things easier, lowering the barriers to entry... does significantly increase the number of people that can contribute to society," Altman explained. "And we all benefit from that, overall."
Critics have argued that AI models generating images are likely trained on artists' original works without consent, potentially competing with the very creators whose work they're built upon.
Altman acknowledged this concern, stating, "It doesn't mean that it doesn't cause some job loss, and some people who had a sort of differential ability to do something now have a lot more competition."
The controversy has put a spotlight on copyright issues in AI art generation. While legal experts note that artistic style isn't protected by copyright, specific works and characters are protected. OpenAI has since begun limiting Ghibli-style prompts and restricting free-tier access.
Despite the backlash, Altman remains optimistic about AI's creative potential. "Taste still really matters," he said, suggesting that while some design tasks may be absorbed by AI, demand for design might actually increase.
The debate continues as AI-generated content becomes increasingly mainstream, with more than 700 million images created through ChatGPT since the feature launched, according to OpenAI's Chief Operating Officer.
In a recent interview with YouTuber Varun Mayya , Altman acknowledged the downsides of AI art but maintained that its overall effect has been positive. "It has not been a complete win. There are negative things about it for sure, and certainly it did something about the art form," Altman said.
Miyazaki’s comments came to light after internet users across the world started a viral trend of posting AI-generated images mimicking Studio Ghibli 's distinctive animation style. The trend started with OpenAI’s ChatGPT release of image generation feature with the GPT-4o upgrade, and users quickly filled social media with "Ghiblified" versions of photos, ranging from family portraits to historical events.
Altman responds to critics of AI-generated art
"Giving everyone more tools, making things easier, lowering the barriers to entry... does significantly increase the number of people that can contribute to society," Altman explained. "And we all benefit from that, overall."
Critics have argued that AI models generating images are likely trained on artists' original works without consent, potentially competing with the very creators whose work they're built upon.
Altman acknowledged this concern, stating, "It doesn't mean that it doesn't cause some job loss, and some people who had a sort of differential ability to do something now have a lot more competition."
The controversy has put a spotlight on copyright issues in AI art generation. While legal experts note that artistic style isn't protected by copyright, specific works and characters are protected. OpenAI has since begun limiting Ghibli-style prompts and restricting free-tier access.
Despite the backlash, Altman remains optimistic about AI's creative potential. "Taste still really matters," he said, suggesting that while some design tasks may be absorbed by AI, demand for design might actually increase.
The debate continues as AI-generated content becomes increasingly mainstream, with more than 700 million images created through ChatGPT since the feature launched, according to OpenAI's Chief Operating Officer.
