OpenAI’s most advanced visual tool yet—the GPT-4o-powered image generator—has taken the internet by storm, especially after the launch of its viral “Ghibli-style” output. Touted as a major leap in creative AI, the tool was initially promised to both paid and free ChatGPT users. However, OpenAI has now delayed its rollout for the free tier, citing unexpectedly high demand.
Ghibli-style feature, all over internet!
The “Ghibli-style” feature, inspired by the iconic visuals of Studio Ghibli, has fascinated users globally. Social platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Reddit and other popular social media platforms have been flooded with AI-generated art under hashtags such as #GhibliStyle and #AIGhibli. From anime-style reimaginings of historical figures to whimsical versions of internet memes, the new model’s artistic output has sparked a creative frenzy.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says……
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the popularity of the feature in a post on X earlier this week. “Images in ChatGPT are wayyyy more popular than we expected (and we had pretty high expectations). Rollout to our free tier is unfortunately going to be delayed for a while,” he wrote.
For now, only paying users—ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers at $20 and $200 per month, respectively—can access the GPT-4o-powered image generation tool. The restriction has drawn disappointment from the free user base, many of whom had been eagerly waiting to experiment with the Ghibli-style output and other hyper-realistic visual formats.
Altman previously called the new visual model an “incredible technology/product,” noting how impressed he was with its capabilities. “I remember seeing some of the first images come out of this model and having a hard time believing they were really made by AI,” he shared.
Older DALL·E model
Despite the delay, the unpaid version still have access to image generation within ChatGPT, but it depends on the older DALL·E model. While DALL·E can produce creative visuals, they don’t match the detail, realism or stylistic finesse—particularly in anime-style rendering—that GPT-4o delivers.
OpenAI has not confirmed a timeline for the free-tier release of the upgraded tool till now. The move reflects a broader industry trend where companies place their most powerful features behind paywalls, raising questions about accessibility and creative inclusivity in the AI space.
For now, the Ghibli-style wave continues to dominate online spaces—with only paying users holding the paintbrush.
