Number of users surged by 150 million in just this year
"Release of image generation feature was pivotal"
Available to free users starting at April 2
ChatGPT, the leading force behind the generative AI boom, has surpassed 500 million global users. The recently launched image generation feature, which has gained immense popularity and even caused OpenAI’s servers to crash, has significantly contributed to this surge. Given the rapid pace of growth, some analysts predict that OpenAI’s goal of reaching 1 billion users by the end of the year is within reach. However, the ongoing issue of copyright infringement—particularly related to the generation of images in the style of 'Studio Ghibli'—could pose a challenge to sustained growth.
Daily users in Korea also surpass 1.4 million
OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, announced on April 1st (local time) that the platform’s user base exceeded 500 million as of the end of last month. This milestone comes approximately 2 years and 4 months after ChatGPT's launch in November 2022, which sparked a global generative AI craze. The user count quickly reached 100 million within two months of launch and gradually increased, surpassing 350 million by the end of last year. In just three months, another 150 million users were added. OpenAI’s goal is to secure another 500 million users by the end of the year, bringing the total to 1 billion. Companies such as Google, Meta, and ByteDance (parent company of TikTok) are among the few that currently boast over 1 billion users globally. The 30% growth in users this year can largely be attributed to the release of new services, including the AI agent 'Operator' and the reasoning model 'DeepResearch,' which performs complex online research tasks. The launch of the 'GPT-4o Image Generation' feature on March 25th also played a critical role in this rapid growth. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, even posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on March 27th, stating, "Our GPUs are melting down due to the overwhelming popularity of the image generation feature." In Korea, the daily user count, which was under 800,000 a month ago, has now surpassed 1.4 million thanks to the explosive demand for the new feature. OpenAI started offering this feature to free users today, with Altman previously stating that free users can generate up to three images per day. With this full release of the image generation tool, experts predict that ChatGPT’s user base will continue to grow rapidly.
Criticism of ChatGPT's Artwork: "Soulless Trash"
However, alongside the surge in popularity, there has been growing controversy over copyright infringement. The image generation feature’s appeal lies in its ability to create images in the style of studios like Studio Ghibli and Disney, leading to accusations that OpenAI may have trained ChatGPT on these specific art styles without the studios' permission. The legal legitimacy of the 'Ghibli-style' images flooding the internet has not been addressed by either OpenAI or Studio Ghibli. Even if OpenAI were to enter licensing agreements with individual studios to mitigate legal risks, it may still struggle to overcome the criticism from creators and fans. Two months ago, thousands of artists signed an open letter calling for the cancellation of an AI-generated art auction scheduled at Christie's Auction House in New York. NBC News reported that while many users are fascinated by the new feature, there is also significant backlash, with some calling it an "insult to director Hayao Miyazaki" and others using the term 'AI slop' to describe the "soulless" AI-generated images.
(The Hankook Ilbo, April 2)
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