CEO Sam Altman announced in a post on X that OpenAI’s new image generator, powered by its GPT-4o model, is now accessible to all users. Previously, this feature was exclusive to paying ChatGPT subscribers.
While the limit for free-tier users remains unclear, Altman mentioned a tentative cap of three daily images.
The tool saw an overwhelming surge in demand upon launch, with Altman stating that OpenAI’s GPUs were “melting” due to its popularity. However, it also sparked controversy for its ability to replicate the style of Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, raising concerns about copyright and the training data used.
Additionally, some users exploited the tool to create fake receipts, such as restaurant bills. An OpenAI spokesperson told TechCrunch that all AI-generated images include metadata indicating their origin and that the company actively enforces its content guidelines against misuse.
Meanwhile, OpenAI has secured a record-breaking $40 billion investment round led by SoftBank, pushing its valuation to $300 billion. The company also reported that ChatGPT now boasts 500 million weekly active users and 700 million monthly active users, underscoring its rapid growth and widespread adoption.
With this funding and expanding capabilities, OpenAI continues its pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI) while navigating the challenges of scaling its technology responsibly.
