Sam Altman defends AI art after Studio Ghibli backlash, calling it a 'net win' for society

• Sam Altman says AI means more people can now create art — and that's a "net win" for society.
• The OpenAI CEO defended generative tools after backlash over Ghibli-style images made with ChatGPT.
• Altman said in an interview that AI tools lower barriers to creativity.

The release of OpenAI's new image generator sparked a tsunami of Studio Ghibli-style memes and raised copyright concerns, but Sam Altman thinks AI art is a "net win" for society.

In an interview published Sunday on YouTube by the founder and content creator Varun Mayya, Altman said AI can expand creativity by lowering the barriers to entry.

Mayya asked Altman about the backlash to AI-generated art, referencing a recently resurfaced video of Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki rejecting an AI animation of a creature. In the 2016 clip, Miyazaki said, "I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself."

Altman, however, said the "trade-off is worth it" because AI has made it easier for people to create art and be heard compared to 30 years ago. He said people then would need equipment like a camcorder and VHS tapes, have to edit it in "some complicated way," and find a way to distribute it without the internet or YouTube.

Now, with just a smartphone and an idea, he said, anyone can publish something meaningful. "If they have something interesting to say, they get it out there, and the world benefits from that," Altman said.

While he acknowledged that AI has changed the nature of art, he said the rise in creative access was an overall win for society, even if the transition wasn't perfect.

"Giving everyone more tools, making things easier, lowering the barriers to entry… does significantly increase the number of people that can contribute to society," Altman added. "And we all benefit from that, overall."

The Ghibli-style AI boom

Altman's comments come just weeks after OpenAI released an image generator tool that, among other things, lets users turn everyday photos into art in the same style as the renowned Studio Ghibli. The feature went viral fast, bringing "Ghiblified" versions of cats, family portraits — and even events like 9/11 and JFK's assassination.

Altman posted a Ghibli-style version of himself and joked on X that OpenAI's servers were "melting" because of the high demand.

However, the trend quickly faced some backlash. Critics said OpenAI was ripping off Ghibli's style, and legal experts told Business Insider that style isn't protected by copyright, only specific works and characters.

Within days, the company began limiting Ghibli-style prompts and restricting free-tier access.

An OpenAI spokesperson previously told BI that its policies allow the generation of images in "broader studio styles" but not "the style of a living artist."

Altman said in his interview with Mayya that despite fears over AI automating design jobs out of existence, he suggested that AI could open up new creative opportunities — not reduce them.

"Taste still really matters," he said, adding, "We still need a lot of good graphic design in the world."

While some tasks may be absorbed by AI, Altman said, demand for design might be about to surge.

Other OpenAI image tools like DALL·E have been adopted by many companies for design, marketing, and media.

"Maybe there are fewer people that do that, but they make much more money," he said.