Ghibli Effect: ChatGPT Usage Hits Record After Rollout of Viral Feature!

The world of artificial intelligence has witnessed an unexpected surge in popularity, thanks to OpenAI’s language model, ChatGPT. Recently, the platform hit a significant milestone, with record-breaking usage following the rollout of a new viral feature. This surge, affectionately dubbed the “Ghibli Effect,” has taken the tech world by surprise, with millions of users flocking to ChatGPT to explore the new capabilities that have taken the internet by storm.

The Viral Trend

Studio Ghibli, the legendary Japanese animation studio behind classics like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, is renowned for its whimsical artistry and emotional storytelling. OpenAI tapped into this aesthetic with its new image-generation tool powered by GPT-4o, enabling users to transform personal photos into Ghibli-style artworks. From wedding portraits to snapshots of pets, users flooded social media with their creations, reveling in the dreamy, painterly aesthetic reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki’s films.

Initially exclusive to paid subscribers, the feature was rolled out to free-tier users on March 29, 2025. This democratization triggered an explosive surge in activity—OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that ChatGPT gained one million users within just one hour of the launch. Weekly active users breached the 150 million mark for the first time this year, while app downloads and subscription revenue soared.

The Impact of Record-Breaking Usage

This uptick in usage has had significant implications not only for OpenAI but for the broader AI landscape. The feature’s success highlights the growing interest in generative AI’s potential for creative expression. It has led to an increased demand for similar tools, prompting other companies to explore how AI can be leveraged for content creation, entertainment, and more.

As ChatGPT continues to gain traction, its viral feature could very well mark a turning point for how we think about AI in the context of art, storytelling, and creativity. The “Ghibli Effect” serves as a reminder of how a new, innovative tool can shape public imagination and create new pathways for artistic expression and collaboration.

Conclusion

ChatGPT’s usage hitting record levels after the rollout of its viral creative feature underscores the power of innovation in AI. Just as Studio Ghibli’s magical stories captivate audiences worldwide, OpenAI’s advancements in interactive storytelling have sparked a similar fascination. As more users explore the boundless potential of AI for creative collaboration, the “Ghibli Effect” shows no signs of slowing down, promising an exciting future for both AI and human imagination.