Sam Altman defends ChatGPT copying Studio Ghibli style

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently defended tools like ChatGPT and DALLE for their ability to replicate artistic styles, arguing that AI democratises creativity and benefits society.

During a recent podcast with Indian entrepreneur Varun Mayya, Altman addressed the ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated imagery, particularly when it mimics iconic styles like those of Studio Ghibli. 

The discussion referenced a viral clip of Hayao Miyazaki, Ghibli’s co-founder, from nine years ago, where he expressed dismay at AI-generated animation, calling it "an insult to life itself."

Altman, however, pushed back, comparing AI’s impact on human art to past technological shifts like digital design tools and YouTube. "The democratisation of creating content has been a big net win for society," Altman said. 

"It has not been a complete win—there are negative things about it—but I think, on the whole, it’s been a win. This is something I very deeply believe about the power of technology: giving everyone more tools, making things easier, lowering the barriers to entry—these significantly increase the number of people who can contribute to society, and we all benefit from that," he said.

"It doesn’t mean that it [art generated by AI] doesn’t cause some job loss, or that some people who had a sort of differential ability to do something now face a lot more competition. But overall, I think it’s a real benefit to society."

Altman acknowledged that AI-generated art disrupts traditional workflows, he argued that, much like how graphic designers adapted from hand-drawn illustrations to Photoshop, with the rise in AI, artists will find new ways to integrate AI into their craft.