'Art Should Be Made By People, For People': LinkedIn User Raises Ethical Concerns Over Use Of ChatGPT For Ghibli-Style Portraits

Art is like a river that flows into the corners of your mind that you never knew even existed. Art over the year has taken different forms. Today, it is AI that, like in many cases, is at the centre of the debate.

The Ghibli Fever

The recent launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT for the creation of Ghibli-Style Portraits has gone viral. The virality of this new trend is best exemplified by the omnipresence of at least one such portrait on almost every timeline.

From commoners to celebrities to world leaders, everyone appears to have jumped onto this bandwagon.

In this apparent euphoria, some have raised concerns over the usage of these features, not just aesthetic reasons but for ethical reasons.

Journalist Saumya Rastogi echoed these thoughts. In a post on the social media platform LinkedIn, Rastogi started by saying, "PSA: Stop using AI to generate Ghibli-styled portraits."

Does It Do Justice?

She further went to say that while it is understandable to join this trend, to attain a dreamy version of your regular moments from you usual life, is it entirely appropriate. Rastogi said, I get it—seeing yourself in the dreamy, hand-drawn world of a Ghibli film sounds delightful. But before you hit generate, ask yourself: Is this what Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli stands for?"

Quoting Miyazaki, she further said that Miyazaki himself once called AI-generated animation “an insult to life itself,” warning that we are “losing faith in ourselves.” His films are painstakingly crafted, infused with human emotion, and a deep reverence for artistry—values that AI-generated art directly undermines.

Ethical Concerns

In addition, Rastogi also touched upon the aspects of ethical use of orgibal source. This is because AI companies like OpenAI have been embroiled in controversies and even litigations surrounding alleged unfair use of databases.

"With AI’s murky copyright laws, using tools like GPT-4 to mimic Ghibli’s signature style isn’t just ethically questionable—it’s a violation of intellectual property. While AI can be a tool for artists, its unchecked use risks erasing the need for human creativity altogether.", Rastogi added.

Ending her post, Rastogi added, "Art should be made by people, for people. Let’s not let automation strip away what makes it truly magical."