The release of Openai’s new image generator has caused a tsunami of Studio Ghibli-style memes and raised copyright concerns, but Sam Altman believes AI Art is a “pure victory” for society.
In an interview published Sunday on YouTube by founder and content creator Varun Mayya, Altman said AI can expand creativity by lowering the barriers to entry.
Mayya asked Altman about his backlash against AI’s generated art, and referenced a recently resurfaced video in which Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki refuses to do AI animations for creatures. In a 2016 clip, Miyazaki said, “I strongly feel this is a shame for life itself. ”
But Altman said “the trade-offs are worth it” because AI made it easier for people to create and listen to art compared to 30 years ago. He said people need equipment like video cameras and VHS tapes and need to find a way to edit it in “complicated ways” and distribute it without the internet or YouTube.
Now, he said, anyone can reveal something meaningful, just a smartphone and an idea. “If they say something interesting, they put it out there and the world will benefit from it,” Altman said.
He acknowledged that AI changed the nature of art, but he said that increasing creative access is an overall victory for society, even if the transition was not perfect.
“Everyone can provide more tools, make things easier, lower the barriers to entry… it can significantly increase the number of people who can contribute to society,” added Altman. “And we all benefited from it overall.”
Ghibli Style AI Boom
Altman’s comments come a few weeks after Openai released the Image Generator tool. This will allow users to turn their everyday photos into art in the same style as the famous studio Ghibli. This feature quickly spread, bringing cats, family portraits, and even “Gibride” versions of events such as the 9/11 and the assassination of JFK.
Altman posted his Ghibli-style version and joked that Openai’s servers “melted” in X due to high demand.
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However, this trend soon faced some backlash. Critics said Openai is tearing Ghibli’s style apart, and legal experts told Business Insider that the style is not protected by copyright.
Within a few days, the company began restricting Ghibli-style prompts and restricting free layer access.
A spokesman for Openai previously told BI that the policy allows for the generation of images in a “wideer studio style” but not “living artist style.”
In an interview with Mayya, Altman said he suggested that despite his fear of AI automating design work, he could open up new creative opportunities.
“Taste is still really important,” he said, adding, “We still need a lot of good graphic design in the world.”
Some tasks could be absorbed by AI, but design demand could be surged, Altman said.
Other Openai image tools, such as Dall E, are adopted by many companies for design, marketing and media.
“Maybe few people do that, but they make more money,” he said.
