OpenAI Throttles ChatGPT After Ghibli-Style Image Frenzy Overwhelms Servers

OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, recently implemented rate limits on their image generation feature after a viral social media trend dubbed the “Ghiblification” phenomenon flooded their servers. This trend saw users transforming images into the distinct art style of Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese animation studio behind beloved films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.

The surge in image requests proved too much for OpenAI’s infrastructure. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, himself participated in the trend, posting a Ghibli-fied self-portrait. However, he later announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the influx of requests had led to significant strain: “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,” he stated.

Altman also acknowledged that some legitimate image generations were being blocked due to the overload, promising a swift resolution. The increased demand followed the March 25th launch of ChatGPT-4o’s upgraded image generation capabilities. While Altman didn’t provide a precise timeframe for lifting the rate limits, he indicated that the free tier would soon be limited to three generations per day.

OpenAI’s rate limits, as explained on their documentation page, are a standard measure to manage server load and ensure consistent service for all users. The company’s move highlights the impressive, yet resource-intensive capabilities of their latest AI models. The Ghibli trend also underscores the widespread adoption of AI image generation tools and their potential to rapidly strain even substantial server infrastructures.

This event comes amidst significant growth for OpenAI. Bloomberg reported that the company projects more than tripling its revenue to $12.7 billion this year. In February, Altman also hinted at the impending release of GPT-4.5 and GPT-5, further suggesting OpenAI’s ambitious plans for the future of AI technology. The Ghibli trend served as a powerful, albeit unexpectedly taxing, demonstration of this future.

Related: Ghibli Memecoins Surge as Internet Flooded with Studio Ghibli-Style AI Images