AI Spirited Away with Ghibli’s Magic

Studio Ghibli's animation hit "Howl's Moving Castle". Photo by Ajith S via Unsplash

Studio Ghibli is behind some of the most beloved animated films in the world. The studio has produced animation hits including “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Howl's Moving Castle” and more.

It’s easy to understand why someone might want to experience their own Ghibli magic.

ChatGPT recently introduced a Studio Ghibli-style image generator, available through its paid version. Worldwide, lovers of the Ghibli style are having a blast incorporating themselves into this animated world. 

While the ability of AI to bring Ghibli's whimsical style to life is exciting, it also raises larger questions about ethics and intellectual property rights. Especially when considering the beliefs of Hayao Miyazaki, the Japanese animator and co-founder of Studio Ghibli.

Many are excited about AI’s potential to revolutionize labor, but Miyazaki has publicly voiced discontent with its rapid growth. 

“I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself … I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all,” Miyazaki said in a video.

This feature contradicts Miyazaki’s stated values. Additionally, the company profits from his stylistic designs. 

This seems to be a slippery slope for creatives, who already worry about the implications of AI in their careers. AI’s ability to generate these images relies on existing copyrighted and protected artwork. AI borrows this creative work to replicate artistic elements without compensation. This raises concerns about originality and the value of creative labor. 

Concerns over AI don’t end with its impact on artists. It is also a matter of sustainability. 

While AI’s exponential growth has increased efficiency in many ways, it has already begun demonstrating its potential for environmental repercussions. MIT News reports that training and developing AI requires substantial energy, even after deployment. 

Additionally, the hardware generates significant heat. The University of Illinois projects that by 2027, cooling systems could demand 4.2 to 6.6 billion cubic meters of water annually. This depletes and disrupts local ecosystems. 

Companies have begun planning ways to mitigate the environmental impacts of AI. Microsoft’s “Accelerating Sustainability with AI: A Playbook” outlines plans to incorporate carbon capture and resource reduction. 

But are these solutions feasible? Like creativity, environmental impact is another arena where AI challenges the value of unchecked progress. One can only wonder how far the growth of AI will go and what that means for ethics and sustainability as we know it. 

“We humans are losing faith in ourselves,” Miyazaki said.

In a culture that values fast-paced innovation over well-being, one must ask: are we sacrificing human values for convenience?