A recent alarming rise in images copying the iconic Studio Ghibli style has taken over social media. It comes after OpenAI's ChatGPT released a new function that allows users to generate AI images. 

Several artists online have since dug up a clip of Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki to show the artist's disdain for such technology. "I am utterly disgusted. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself. I feel like we are nearing the end of times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves." This statement was his reaction after being shown a tool designed by animators and designers that utilized AI to animate images some years ago. 

Miyazaki is best known for bringing countless anime films to life. Among his most notable works are "Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro," "Howl's Moving Castle," and most recently, "The Boy and the Heron." Most of his works are hand-drawn, with only minimal use of CGI in some. A lot of themes in his movies also focus on how technology and modernization lead to the downfall of humanity. One look from any scene and his movies and you are sure to find beauty in the natural landscapes that take over the screen. Though in any scenes involving manmade structures and technology, Miyazaki evokes a sense of grit, as most are drawn in a grimey manner. 

Another issue that comes with these AI-generated images is the question of how they infringe copyright. Many AI-users seem steadfast in defending its use and how the prompts they come up with are as genuine as an artist's craft. Already, there have been several cases of AI being used to steal, deface, or profit off an artist's original creation. Several artists have also voiced their concerns about how AI can cause massive lay-offs. It's worth noting how the recent Hollywood strikes come from writers, actors, artists, and other affected workers voicing their concerns about studios' use of AI. Then, there's the issue of how these altered images can be used to trick others. As AI technology improves, more people online have found it difficult to differentiate genuine images and videos from AI-generated ones.

Though it's unlikely these AI-generated images will stop anytime soon, it would do well to remember that the human element can never be erased.