OpenAI’s newly released native image generation feature has taken the internet by storm, with ChatGPT users creating over 700 million images in just seven days. COO Brad Lightcap shared the staggering figures on X, while CEO Sam Altman hailed India as the fastest-growing market for ChatGPT, praising the country’s “explosion of creativity.”
What’s New in ChatGPT’s Image Generator?
Although ChatGPT previously offered image generation via DALL·E 3, last week’s update enabled GPT-4o — the AI’s core model — to generate images natively. This change has resulted in faster processing, more consistent outputs, and finer control over image styles, fueling a massive uptick in usage.
Studio Ghibli Effect Takes Over the Web
Among the various styles available, users have especially embraced the Studio Ghibli-style effect, creating lifelike visuals inspired by the iconic Japanese animation house. The trend has gone viral globally, with social media timelines filled with whimsical, AI-generated Ghibli-esque scenes.
Demand Overwhelms OpenAI Servers
The sudden surge in image generation has led to two major outages on ChatGPT, as demand strained OpenAI’s servers and GPUs. Altman acknowledged the internal pressure, stating that the team has been losing sleep to maintain stability. He also warned that upcoming releases may be delayed due to capacity issues.
AI Boom Continues, But at a Cost
While the popularity of ChatGPT’s image generation is a testament to growing AI adoption, especially in India, it has also exposed infrastructure bottlenecks. OpenAI is now racing to scale its systems, even as user interest continues to soar and the AI arms race intensifies.
