OpenAI Limits GPT-4o Image Generator to Paid Users After Viral Studio Ghibli Trend

The feature's popularity and ethical concerns over AI-generated art prompt a delayed rollout for free-tier users.

OpenAI's GPT-4o model introduced advanced image-generation capabilities on March 25, 2025, enabling detailed and precise visual outputs, including text rendering and editing.
A viral trend of creating Studio Ghibli-style images using the new feature raised significant debates about copyright, artist rights, and the ethics of AI-generated art.
Due to overwhelming demand, OpenAI delayed the rollout of the image-generation feature to free-tier users indefinitely, while keeping it accessible to paid subscribers.
The company faces scrutiny over its use of copyrighted material in training datasets, with ongoing lawsuits questioning the legality of such practices.
OpenAI emphasizes safeguards, including metadata embedding and restrictions on harmful content, though concerns persist about the ease of removing such identifiers.