OpenAI Temporarily Limits ChatGPT’s Image Generation Following Surge in Ghibli-Style Content
OpenAI has temporarily limited access to ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities after a rapid increase in user activity driven by the viral Ghibli-style illustration trend. Free-tier users are now restricted to three image generations per day, and the popular Ghibli-style output has been paused entirely for them.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed the decision in a public post on X (formerly Twitter), citing unsustainable infrastructure demands caused by an unexpected surge in image generation requests.
it's super fun seeing people love images in chatgpt.
— Sam Altman (@sama) March 27, 2025
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.
The company’s native image generation tool, launched as part of the GPT-4o model rollout, enabled users to create and edit detailed visual content directly within ChatGPT. The feature quickly gained traction, particularly for producing illustrations styled after the iconic aesthetic of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio known for its hand-drawn storytelling and visual artistry.
Altman added that some generations are being blocked erroneously and that the engineering team is working to resolve the issues promptly.
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Ghibli Trend and Its Impact
The Ghibli-style image trend, which allows users to transform photos into anime-inspired artwork, became a social media phenomenon shortly after the feature’s release. The sudden spike in usage placed significant stress on OpenAI’s GPU infrastructure, prompting the company to scale back access to stabilize performance.
Though originally available to all users—including those on the free tier—the most demanding styles, such as Ghibli illustrations, are now temporarily disabled for non-paying users. In addition, daily generation limits have been introduced to prevent further strain on system resources.
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OpenAI has not provided a specific timeline for the full restoration of services but indicated that work is underway to optimize backend efficiency.
Studio Ghibli’s Influence
Studio Ghibli, founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, is known globally for animated films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Princess Mononoke. The studio’s unique visual language—characterized by soft palettes, expressive characters, and intricate environments—has become a benchmark for traditional animation and now serves as creative inspiration for AI-generated content.
Continued Feature Rollout and GPT-4o Updates
Despite the current limitations, OpenAI confirmed that its image generation capabilities are being rolled out to Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers, with varying levels of availability. Free users will retain limited access during this transition period.
Separately, Altman also announced performance improvements to GPT-4o, which he described as particularly effective at code generation, instruction following, and general responsiveness.
Conclusion
The temporary restrictions underscore the challenge of scaling high-demand AI features in real time. As OpenAI works to balance accessibility with infrastructure stability, users—particularly those on the free tier may experience reduced functionality until further optimizations are implemented.
Edward is a technology journalist at Blockiance who focuses on the intersection of AI and blockchain. With a degree in artificial intelligence, he excels at explaining complex innovations to a broad audience. Edward’s forward-thinking reporting has earned him a growing readership in the tech community.
