The release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o image generator update last week created a viral sensation, with Seattle-based software engineer Grant Slatton at the center of the phenomenon. Slatton, a founding engineer at startup Row Zero, generated a Studio Ghibli-style animated image of himself, his wife, and their dog at the beach, which garnered over 46 million views on social media platform X.
The overwhelming response to the AI-generated artwork prompted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to plead with users to “please chill” as the company’s GPUs were “melting” under the unprecedented demand, leading to the implementation of rate limits. Slatton’s post, which suggested there was “tremendous alpha right now in sending your wife photos of yall converted to studio ghibli anime,” inspired countless others to create similar AI-generated family portraits.
However, the viral success also sparked controversy and criticism from some members of the artistic community. While Slatton received significant positive attention, including coverage in Business Insider, he also faced backlash from what he described as a “vocal minority” expressing concerns about AI’s impact on traditional art forms.
The debate intensified when critics shared a 2016 quote from renowned director Hayao Miyazaki, who had reportedly criticized AI as “an insult to life itself.” In response to accusations that he should “learn to draw,” Slatton revealed his own traditional artistic abilities by sharing an oil painting he had created of his wife.
Slatton’s connection to the Ghibli style predates the AI controversy – he and his wife had commissioned a friend to create a Ghibli-style portrait for their 2019 wedding announcement. Notably, that same artist has embraced the new technology, requesting Slatton’s help in creating AI-generated images for her own family.
OpenAI has addressed concerns about artistic attribution, stating that while their platform allows for “broader studio styles,” it blocks requests for generations mimicking individual living artists’ styles. Slatton pointed out the complexity of the debate by referencing platforms like Fiverr, where artists routinely offer Ghibli-style illustrations for modest fees.
The controversy, according to Slatton, reflects broader societal tensions, including artists’ economic insecurity and ongoing anti-tech sentiment that dates back to protests against tech companies a decade ago. He noted that the recent political shifts among some tech leaders have further complicated these cultural dynamics.
Despite the mixed reactions, Slatton maintains his original stance on AI image generation, viewing the current debate as a continuation of discussions that began with earlier AI art tools like DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney. He acknowledges the legitimacy of various concerns, from intellectual property rights to economic implications and philosophical questions about the nature of art.
The incident has also affected Slatton’s employer, Row Zero, with co-founder Breck Fresen reporting that the company received angry emails following the viral post. The four-year-old Seattle startup, where Slatton works as a founding engineer after eight years at Amazon Web Services, found itself unexpectedly drawn into the broader conversation about AI’s role in creative expression.
This viral moment has highlighted the ongoing tension between technological advancement and artistic tradition, while demonstrating the powerful capabilities of new AI tools to capture public
imagination and generate widespread engagement, even as they raise important questions about the future of creative expression.