6 April 2025, Sun |
3:42 PM
A viral trend using ChatGPT’s image-generation tool to create Ghibli-style AI art has led to a record surge in users, straining OpenAI’s servers and causing temporary outages.
Social media exploded with AI-generated images inspired by Studio Ghibli’s hand-drawn style, famous for films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. As a result, ChatGPT’s weekly active users surpassed 150 million for the first time this year, according to Similarweb.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared on X that the platform added “one million users in the last hour,” a pace far exceeding its launch growth over two years ago.
The trend also boosted ChatGPT’s app performance. SensorTower reported an 11% rise in downloads, a 5% jump in active users, and a 6% increase in in-app purchases.
However, the traffic surge caused glitches and slowdowns. OpenAI acknowledged the strain, warning of possible delays and temporary disruptions as it works to stabilize services.
Despite challenges, the success of this AI art trend highlights growing demand for AI-generated visuals, pushing ChatGPT to new heights.
