Brian Merchant

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

The anxiety around AI and the backlash to AI-generated products is strong enough that even corporations like Dove and Discover are declaring their human-first bonafides and creators and startups are making "No AI" pledges.

A '100% LLM-free' consumer trend is here.

My latest, in the Atlantic

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/06/llm-free-all-organic/678670/?gift=iWa_iB9lkw4UuiWbIbrWGem5-1Z0TEpq9qBDnPF5As4&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share