Brian MerchantMar 27, 2025

OpenAI is using Studio Ghibli-style memes as an ad hoc promotional campaign for its new image generator—despite Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki's famous hatred of AI. Sam Altman even made his X avatar a 'Ghiblified' portrait.

Disgracing Miyazaki is part of the point: It's more proof to the industry's biggest boosters that they have won—that they're free to use, appropriate, and commoditize art however they see fit.

https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/openais-studio-ghibli-meme-factory

OpenAI's Studio Ghibli meme factory is an insult to art itself

Sam Altman is promoting his new image generator by appropriating the work of one of the greatest living animators—who is "disgusted" by AI.

Blood in the Machine
Show threadBrian MerchantMar 27, 2025
I realize that language is strong, and for a long time I have been skeptical of this notion that 'AI bros hate artists' or such—but seeing the response to this critique, which on the other site really actually has too often been literally 'Fuck Miyazaki', what other conclusion are we to come to?
Show threadFifi LamouraMar 28, 2025
@brianmerchant They're like a rapist's relationship to the person they're raping, they hate artists but also envy and desire them. They artist/woman must be destroyed and broken so the rapist can deny their feelings of disempowerment and unworthiness in an orgy of violence that makes them feel powerful.
Show threadcwicseolfor (has moved!)Mar 28, 2025
@fifilamoura @brianmerchant Oh, does that ever rhyme and ring true. They desire what they can't command, so they abuse and abase instead.
Show threadcwicseolfor (has moved!)
@fifilamoura @brianmerchant I haven't been able to put this down and my brain has expanded on it since, if you find that useful - this toot and the one above -https://urbanists.social/@cwicseolfor/114240121617876389
cwicseolfor (@[email protected])

@[email protected] @[email protected] There's another camp of users with the dim argument that once the models are built (from stolen works, taken both without compensation and against consent) it's no longer harming anyone to consume them, but I can't help but see a parallel to exploitation materials/ revenge media in that too. The people who did the theft did so with immoral recklessness or outright malice, for a reckless or malicious audience; to engage it thereafter feels anything but morally neutral.

Urbanists.Social
Mar 28, 2025 at 1:15pmWeb