Is this weird tech ruining things for artists?

ChatGPT rolled out a fun, if controversial, image generator last week.

If you prompt the 4o model, it’ll create hyper-realistic-looking images that look like hand drawings from Studio Ghibli.

The Japanese equivalent of Pixar Studios, Studio Ghibli is behind films like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Princess Mononoke,

I’ve tried a few AI image generators. They usually introduce hallucinations like hands floating in space, misplaced feet and odd-looking objects. They also struggle when asked to mix up text and images.

This new generator created images that contained fewer hallucinations. They’re also ready for use within one or two prompts.

I asked the generator to create an image for a procrastinating writer and got this:

I also asked it to create an image of an in-pain marathon runner getting their first personal best at a race and got this:

And I asked the generator to create an image of the famous Captain Picard face-palm meme… for artists.

My X feed is stuffed with Ghibli-inspired images like the ones above. Here’s where things get interesting:

Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of the Japanese animation house, called the outputs “an insult to life itself". Basically, he hates AI.

So, would I use these images?

Images are an expensive business. Free stock, the kind that you’ll find on Unsplash, is well and good, but it’s derivative and easy to spot. It’ll only take you so far.

I’ve paid companies like Shutterstock thousands for premium stock photos for my websites over the years. I usually take a photo with my iPhone when I need an authentic image.

I only use images I own, created or which I’ve a license for. But I still get emails regularly from so-called legal companies sniffing around to see if they can extract a few dollars in case I misplaced a license.

Just as carbon plate technology transformed marathon running by improving times for professionals and amateurs, AI image generation democratizes visual content creation.

Image generators, like this one from OpenAI, will enable new content creators. But, it won’t do the work for you. I’d wager the hype around this AI-image-generation tool will die once people get bored of the Ghibli aesthetic. Then, another aesthetic will pop up.

There’s a strong case for Web 3.0 tech, like NFTs, giving creators a way to sign their images as immutable and authentic… rather than derivative.

Depending on your use, AI can empower or debase your work. It can amplify your creativity, but it can’t replace it.

Creativity is something I have written about before, including in my best-selling series, The Power of Creativity.