‘Ghibli-style’ images drive ChatGPT usage surge in Korea, setting daily record

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, left, and his X profile photo generated in Studio Ghibli style using ChatGPT’s latest image model / EPA-Yonhap, captured from Altman's X

ChatGPT saw a record-high number of daily active users in Korea last month, boosted by the explosive popularity of its new image generation model that produces artwork in the style of Studio Ghibli.

According to data released on April 1 by mobile analytics platform IGAWorks, the number of daily active users of ChatGPT in Korea reached 1,252,925 on March 27, setting a new all-time high. The figure marked a sharp rise of more than 220,000 users in just two weeks since March 10, when ChatGPT surpassed 1 million daily users (1,033,733) for the first time. Compared to March 1, when the daily users stood at 799,571, the number surged by over 450,000.

Industry observers attribute the rapid increase to the launch of the new ChatGPT-4o image generation model on March 25. The latest model allows users to create images without having to enter commands manually, instead interpreting user intent automatically. Its release quickly went viral as users around the world began generating and sharing images in the style of popular animated series such as “The Simpsons” and various Disney films on social media.

Among the most popular themes is the art style of Japan’s Studio Ghibli, known for films like “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Spirited Away.” Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman updated his profile photo on X (formerly Twitter) to an image of himself rendered in the Ghibli style using the new model. Commenting on the model’s runaway popularity, Altman said that “GPUs are melting.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.