We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research, and also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.

Learn more

Advertising Disclosure

OpenAI Limits AI Image Generation As GPUs Struggle With Ghibli-Inspired Demand

Image by Mangoose13, from Goodfon

OpenAI Limits AI Image Generation As GPUs Struggle With Ghibli-Inspired Demand

Reading time: 3 min

Last Updated: Mar 30, 2025

Written by Kiara Fabbri Multimedia Journalist
Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Content Manager

OpenAI put its AI image-generation tool under restrictions because an unforeseen increase in usage threatened to burn out its computing capacity.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

OpenAI limited AI image generation as high demand strained its GPUs.
The viral Ghibli-style image trend caused massive spikes in usage.
CEO Sam Altman said OpenAI’s GPUs are “melting” under pressure.

CEO Sam Altman announced that the company’s GPUs are experiencing damage from excessive user requests that focus on Studio Ghibli-inspired image creation.

The CEO posted on X that the GPU devices were melting down.

it’s super fun seeing people love images in chatgpt.

but our GPUs are melting.

we are going to temporarily introduce some rate limits while we work on making it more efficient. hopefully won’t be long!

chatgpt free tier will get 3 generations per day soon.

— Sam Altman (@sama) March 27, 2025

OpenAI’s AI tool gained popularity because it produces images which resemble Studio Ghibli’s animation style. Social media platforms have become overwhelmed with Ghibli-style pictures of people as well as historical events, and an AI-generated picture of Altman who selected a Ghibli-inspired version of himself as his X profile image.

The resurgence of copyright issues has emerged from the trend. OpenAI has faced lawsuits regarding its training data while the company has worked to establish defensive measures, as noted by Fortune.

The system card for GPT-4o states that the model does not accept requests to produce images in the style of a living artist, as previously noted by TechCrunch. Studio Ghibli’s co-founder Hayao Miyazaki remains alive, and expressed his opposition to AI-generated art which he described as an “insult to life itself.”

Fortune reports that the free version of ChatGPT declines to generate Studio Ghibli-style images, citing policy violations. When Fortune requested such an image, the chatbot responded:

“I wasn’t able to generate the image because the request didn’t follow content policy guidelines. If you’d like, I can create something similar with a different approach—perhaps a symbolic representation of technology and art clashing in a fantasy setting. Let me know how you’d like to proceed!”

The rapid spread of AI-generated images reveals the significant computational resources needed to produce such content. The entire process needs powerful GPUs alongside large-scale cloud infrastructure and extensive energy consumption.

The temporary rate limits indicate OpenAI’s efforts to improve efficiency yet demonstrate the difficulties of making AI tools compatible with increasing user demand.

Generative AI development will face ongoing challenges in achieving accessibility while maintaining computational sustainability and ethical standards according to OpenAI and other similar companies.

Kiara Fabbri

Written by: Kiara Fabbri

Hi, I’m Kiara Fabbri a Tech News Writer at WizCase. I'm a multimedia journalist with a keen interest in innovative and immersive news storytelling. Fluent in three languages—Italian, English, and Spanish—I'm deeply engaged in all facets of news reporting. I am currently undertaking a Ph.D. exploring VR applications in journalism. Following my studies in psychology (BSc) and political psychology (MSc), I embarked on a three-year journey across South America. During this time, I undertook a 4000 km solo bicycle trip from Chile to Brazil. There, I camped, cooked on the road, and volunteered in various facilities. It was during these travels that I discovered my passion for journalism. Subsequently, I pursued a Master's program in journalism innovation and enterprise. My career in journalism has seen me produce VR immersive experiences covering a range of topics. These include documenting an Anti Militaristic raid of a NATO Base, life in the Brazilian Favelas, the recent violent protest clashes in Buenos Aires and finally social projects run by Skaters in the Argentinian ghettos. In addition to my journalistic endeavours, I also practice parkour, a discipline I have cultivated over several years now. I love to make the most of this skill in my journalistic style; for example, it has enabled me to capture dynamic footage from heights during the recent violent clashes in Buenos Aires. There, I scaled heights and employed a long stick on my camera to create aerial 360° views. Through my dedication to pushing the boundaries of journalism, I am committed to amplifying voices, sparking meaningful conversations, and driving positive change in the world.

Did you like this article? Rate it!

I hated it I don't really like it It was ok Pretty good! Loved it!

We're thrilled you enjoyed our work!

As a valued reader, would you mind giving us a shoutout on Trustpilot? It's quick and means the world to us. Thank you for being amazing!

Rate us on Trustpilot

5.00 Voted by 3 users

Title

Your email Please enter a valid email address.

Comment

Thanks for your feedback

Please wait 5 minutes before posting another comment.

Comment sent for approval.

Leave a Comment

Show more...

Share & Support

WizCase is reader-supported so we may receive a commission when you buy through links on our site. You do not pay extra for anything you buy on our site — our commission comes directly from the product owner. Some providers are owned by our parent company. Learn moreWizcase was established in 2018 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Intego and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on Wizcase are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article..