Latest news with #StudioGhibli-inspired
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- The Hindu
Redrawing the not-so-pretty energy footprint of AI
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has undoubtedly eased access to art and reduced the time and the effort required to complete certain tasks. For example, ChatGPT-4o can generate a Studio Ghibli-inspired portrait in seconds with just a prompt. But this ease comes at a significant energy cost that is often overlooked — one that has even led to Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) melting. As AI tools advance, this environmental impact will continue to become more detrimental, making this an unsustainable technology. How can AI be developed sustainably? And can leveraging nuclear energy, specifically Small Modular Reactors (SMR), be a possible alternative? AI is not free. Every time one uses ChatGPT or any other AI tool, somewhere in the world, there is a data centre chugging electricity, much of which is generated from fossil fuels. 'It's super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT, but our GPUs are melting,' tweeted Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Projections indicate that these data centres could account for 10% of the world's total electricity usage by 2030. Though these estimates mirror worldwide energy trends, it is necessary to highlight that India currently has sufficient capacity to generate electricity for its own domestic AI needs. Yet, with increasing adoption and ambitions, proactive planning is imperative. Training an AI model, whether it is a conversational tool such as ChatGPT or an image-generator tool such as Midjourney, can generate the same amount of CO2 as five cars running continuously across their life. Once deployed, AI tools continue to draw immense power from data centres as they serve countless users around the globe. This resource consumption is staggering, and it is becoming more unsustainable as AI adoption grows. To start with, AI companies need to be transparent about their energy consumption. Just as some regulations mandate the disclosure of privacy practices surrounding data usage, companies must also be mandated to disclose their environmental impact — first, how much energy is being consumed? Second, where is it coming from? Third, what steps are being taken to minimise energy consumption? Such data would provide further insights on where energy is being used the most and encourage research and development to create a more sustainable model of AI development. Advantages of SMRs Another, perhaps controversial, solution would be to address the energy source behind all of this technological growth. It is time nuclear energy, particularly SMRs, is discussed seriously. While this is often a subject of heated debate, it is also a powerful potential solution to the energy demands created by AI and other emerging technologies. The AI boom is happening fast, and the current energy infrastructure will just not be able to keep up. SMRs present a transformative opportunity for the global energy landscape to support booming AI and data infrastructure. Unlike traditional large-scale nuclear power plants that demand extensive land, water, and infrastructure, SMRs are designed to be compact and scalable. This flexibility allows them to be deployed closer to high-energy-demand facilities, such as data centres, which require consistent and reliable power to manage vast amounts of computational workloads. Their ability to provide 24X7, zero-carbon, baseload electricity makes them an ideal alternative to renewable sources such as solar and wind by ensuring a stable energy supply regardless of weather conditions. The benefits of SMRs extend beyond just energy reliability. Their modular construction reduces construction time and costs when compared to conventional nuclear plants, enabling faster deployment to meet the rapidly growing demands of AI and data-driven industries. Additionally, SMRs offer enhanced safety features, with passive safety systems that rely on natural phenomena to cool the reactor core and safely shut down, reducing the risk of accidents. This makes them more acceptable and easier to integrate into regions where large-scale nuclear facilities would face opposition. The ability of SMR to operate in diverse environments, from urban areas to remote locations, also supports the decentralisation of energy production, reducing transmission losses and enhancing grid resilience. Some of the challenges However, the adoption of SMRs is not without challenges. Significant policy shifts will be required to create a robust regulatory framework that addresses safety, waste management and public perception. There is also the matter of substantial upfront investment, as the technology is still maturing and may face issues of cost competitiveness when compared to established energy sources. Additionally, coordinating SMR deployment with existing renewable energy initiatives will require careful planning to maximise synergies while minimising redundancy. In India's case, despite these challenges, the cost of electricity from SMRs is predicted to fall from ₹10.3 to ₹5 per kWh after the reactors are functional, which is less than the average cost of electricity. In conclusion, a public-private partnership model presents a realistic solution to the challenges of sustainable AI development. By leveraging the strengths of both sectors, this model can facilitate the efficient development of SMRs alongside other forms of renewable energy to support advancements in AI. Anwesha Sen is with The Takshashila Institution. Sourav Mannaraprayil is with The Takshashila Institution
Mint
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Sam Altman reimagines Satya Nadella's OpenAI visit in Studio Ghibli style, Microsoft CEO responds
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman brought back echoes of ChatGPT's Ghibli-style image trend on Friday, sharing an AI-generated image of himself with Microsoft chief Satya Nadella. The viral trend took off last month after ChatGPT gained native image generation capabilities, allowing users to reimagine real-life photos with a Studio Ghibli-inspired twist among other effects. 'Welcomed Satya Nadella to OpenAI's new offices while also showcasing some of the latest technology that the ChatGPT maker is working on.' Altman wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Altman's post received a prompt response from Microsoft CEO, who wrote, 'Great to see you today,@sama. Love the new office!' While ChatGPT's new image generation capabilities have gone viral thanks to the Ghibli-style trend lighting up social media, they've also sparked renewed concerns around copyright infringement. Critics argue that OpenAI's tool is effectively mimicking—and in some cases, ripping off the work of original artists. The OpenAI CEO had addressed some of these issues during a recent conversation with TED's Chris Anderson. 'I think the creative spirit of humanity is an incredibly important thing, and we want to build tools that lift that up, that make it so that new people can create better art, better content, write better novels that we all enjoy. I believe very deeply that humans will be at the center of that.' Altman said during the discussion. 'I also believe that we probably do need to figure out some sort of new model around the economics of creative output. People have been building on the creativity of others for a long time. People take inspiration for a long time. But as the access to creativity gets incredibly democratized, and people are building off of each other's ideas all the time. I think there are incredible new business models that we and others are excited to explore. Exactly what that's gonna look like, I'm not sure,' the OpenAI CEO added. First Published: 2 May 2025, 01:48 PM IST
NDTV
27-04-2025
- NDTV
ChatGPT Tops Global App Charts, Beats Instagram and TikTok In March
OpenAI's ChatGPT became the most downloaded app globally for March 2025. According to App Figures, the artificial intelligence app has surpassed social media giants like Instagram and TikTok. This is the largest month for ChatGPT ever and the first time the app has topped the monthly download charts. In March, ChatGPT reached 46 million new downloads, up 28 percent from February, according to new data released by app intelligence company App Figures. The data revealed that ChatGPT saw 13 million downloads on iOS and 33 million on Android, making a total of 46 million downloads in the month of March. Instagram also achieved 46 million downloads in March, including 5 million on iOS and 41 million on Android. It was followed by TikTok with 45 million downloads, which witnessed 8 million downloads on iOS and 37 million on Android. According to MoneyControl, between January and March 2025, the app was downloaded 148 percent more than it was during the same time in 2024. App Figures founder and CEO Ariel Michaeli said, "It's starting to feel like ChatGPT is becoming a verb, a lot like how Google did in the 2000s, to the point where many don't think 'AI' but rather 'ChatGPT.'" He added, "So when there's excitement about AI — even about competition like Grok, Manus AI, or DeepSeek — many who are not swimming in this topic come for AI but really download ChatGPT." The rapid growth of ChatGPT took place after CEO Sam Altman introduced advanced image-generation capabilities. The social media platforms exploded with Studio Ghibli-inspired art. The craze among people for Japanese anime art was so insane that Mr Altman asked users to stop making so many image requests, as the team needs rest as well. In a post on X, he wrote, "Can y'll please chill on generating images, this is insane, our team needs sleep." can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep — Sam Altman (@sama) March 30, 2025 He also urged users to slow down because it was putting too much pressure on the system. He said, "It's super fun seeing people love images in chatgpt. But our GPUs are melting. We are going to temporarily introduce some rate limits while we work on making it more efficient. Hopefully won't be long! Chatgpt free tier will get 3 generations per day soon." it's super fun seeing people love images in chatgpt. but our GPUs are melting. we are going to temporarily introduce some rate limits while we work on making it more efficient. hopefully won't be long! chatgpt free tier will get 3 generations per day soon. — Sam Altman (@sama) March 27, 2025 OpenAI CEO Brad Lightcap revealed that in just one week since ChatGPT introduced its image generation feature, over 130 million people used it and together created more than 700 million images.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Viral AI-made art trends are making artists even more worried about their futures
Joy Cardaño said she used to get commissioned almost every week to create anime-inspired art. Now, she said, that work has nearly come to a halt, with many online users seeming to gravitate toward artificial intelligence-made art, instead. From Studio Ghibli-inspired illustrations to doll and action figure 'starter packs,' an explosion of AI-generated images in recent weeks has sparked a fresh wave of concern among artists like Cardaño, who argue that using AI undermines the importance of trained artists and takes away their commission opportunities. 'People who use it [AI generators] should be respectful of artists,' Cardaño, who goes by Joyblivion on Instagram, said in an email, calling the trend 'so unethical.' 'Even if the artists are vocal about how they don't want their art to be used, they refuse to listen. I think whoever uses it or is thinking of using it should research how it impacts the art community.' Many in the art community echo the sentiment as they continue to monitor the latest advancements in AI, including the recent rollout of OpenAI's GPT- 4o, which can generate text, images and audio. ChatGPT users are able to generate images using the model for free. The rest of its capabilities are for paid users only, with membership prices starting at $20 a month. Cardaño, 30, who is based in the Philippines, said she has been a full-time artist since she graduated from college. She primarily sells her work on INPRNT, an online shop. Her commissioned pieces usually start at $100. After having seen the virality of the Ghibli trend, she took to Instagram to highlight her past work in hope of swaying people to pay for art, instead. 'Studio Ghibli fan art that I drew with my own hands without needing AI,' she wrote in an April 1 post, accompanied by a sample of her work. Several other artists took the same approach, posting their own images while condemning the use of AI and circulating a video of Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki calling AI-generated art 'an insult to life itself.' Artists have kept up the same momentum with the action figure starter pack trend, by similarly posting their own human-made version takes on the trend. Many artists say they are particularly concerned about AI's ability to mimic certain styles, which artists have honed for years. Hollie Mengert, 37, a Los Angeles-based illustrator, said she came across an AI model that was trying to replicate her art style back in 2022 — the year ChatGPT was released. After she received messages notifying her that someone had made a model based on her art style, she decided to take a look for herself. She wasn't impressed with what she saw. She said the images that the model produced were similar to hers but that they lacked emotion and weren't something she 'would actually draw.' 'What would you do if you took the time that you're typing prompts into AI and just try sketching something for yourself?' Mengert said. 'I know that doesn't always appeal to everybody, but I'm just so much more interested to see what people come up with for themselves, because it's always more personal.' Some artists, like illustrator and cartoonist Sarah Andersen, are taking legal action. A few years ago, Andersen, 32, found herself in a position similar to Studio Ghibli's after she saw people online were creating false versions of her comics using AI technology. That led her and two other artists to sue three AI companies in January 2023 alleging copyright infringement, claiming the companies were using her work to train the models. The lawsuit is still active. 'Credit, consent and compensation, that's what we would like from those models,' Andersen said. 'That's what we're trying to achieve with the lawsuits.' The proliferation of AI-made art does ultimately take a toll on many artists. 'If you're an artist that works mainly off of commissions, you're probably losing a lot of income because it is cheaper, easier and faster to use a model to create an image than it is to pay an artist,' she said. 'And of course, that's a financial issue, because if you want to use that particular artist's style, you can do that, too, and you can do that without their consent, so it becomes a big financial issue.' OpenAI and other tech companies have taken some steps to try to prevent their AI models from directly copying particular artists. OpenAI has said it is choosing to take a 'conservative approach' with this version of AI image generation. With GPT-4o, the model can generate images that resemble the aesthetics of certain artists when the artists' names are included in the prompt, but the company has added 'a refusal which triggers when a user attempts to generate an image in the style of a living artist.' 'Our image generation tools are designed to support human creativity, not replace it, helping anyone explore ideas and express themselves in new ways,' an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement. NBC News tested the model and found that it would refuse to create images that replicated Mengert's and Andersen's styles. It did still create images in the style of Studio Ghibli, but not when it was asked to create an image in the style of Miyazaki. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended the AI art trends in an interview with content creator Varun Mayya posted to YouTube this month. 'I think the democratization of creating content has been a big net win for society,' he said when he was asked about his thoughts about the backlash from artists. 'It has not a complete win; there are negative things about it for sure, and certainly it did something about the art form. But I think on the whole it's been a win.' This article was originally published on
The National
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Are Studio Ghibli-inspired AI images harmless fun?
Are Studio Ghibli inspired AI images harmless fun? With regard to Razmig Bedirian's piece Studio Ghibli-inspired AI images are going viral, but here's why they shouldn't (April 2): It should be a straightforward concept to grasp that using AI to create images in an artist's style without their permission is considered theft. Zal Junaibi, Dubai The only reason people like me have taken to using the Studio Ghibli filter is because we are in love with the artist's work. Maybe it would have been good if the artist made his own filter and laughed about it. The unique stories and characters will never be truly replicated by this programme. It doesn't take into account that Ghibli movies aren't identical. Each is unique. So maybe let the fans have their fun without anyone politicising their funny posts. Don't come after harmless social media users for using a filter we like of movies we like. Sima B, Doha Users should be careful and not forget that they are sharing images and sensitive information about themselves to AI-enabled servers. Farhan Patel, Dubai It should be okay for people to enjoy a dope art style without having to hear complaints even about this. Nabil Hamideh, Los Angeles, California If the artist is against it, then it shouldn't be promoted by ChatGPT Timin Roy, Mumbai, India Israel's ceasefire violations in Lebanon With regard to the article Israel strikes Beirut for second time since ceasefire, killing four (April 1): What ceasefire is that? The one that Israel has violated so many times? A one-sided ceasefire cannot be considered a ceasefire at all. Hasan G, Tyre, Lebanon The relentless war in Gaza With regard to Thomas Helm's report Opponents of Netanyahu issue desperate condemnations of Gaza bombing (March 18): Release the hostages. Stop this renewed ground offensive and bloodshed once and for all. Work out a permanent solution to this. Enough is enough, stop the slaughter of innocent people. Nadia Kaur, Sharjah An Eid tradition with neighbours With reference to Mohamed Fathi's video about Eid sweets (April 1): Lovely to see this incredible lady keeping long-standing traditions alive despite inflation. It's remarkable to hear her say that for 40 years they have been gathering and preparing Eid sweets at home. May God bless this lady, Howaida Abdelaaty and her neighbours with good health and happiness to continue such beautiful and meaningful festive traditions. Ismail T, Cairo, Egypt
