OpenAI's Sam Altman reshares PM Modi's Ghibli-style images, reacts with flag emoji. See post

Sam Altman, who leads OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and its AI image generator, reshared the post on X.

The internet has been captivated by Ghibli-style AI-generated images, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has found himself at the centre of the conversation. As the trend gained traction, the Government of India joined in by sharing a series of AI-generated Ghibli-style images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting key moments from his tenure. On Tuesday, Altman reshared these images, drawing both praise and criticism.

The official X account of MyGov India, the digital initiative of the Government of India, posted a collection of Ghibli-style AI-generated images of PM Modi in various settings. One image depicted him holding the Indian flag, while others showcased his diplomatic meetings with former US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Alongside these images, MyGov India captioned the post: “Main character? No. He’s the whole storyline. Experience through New India in Studio Ghibli strokes.”

Altman, who leads OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and its AI image generator, reshared the post on X. Additionally, he also reshared similar AI-generated images posted by India Post, further amplifying the trend.

Main character? No.Hes the whole storylineExperience through New India in Studio Ghibli strokes.#StudioGhibli#PMModiInGhibli pic.twitter.com/bGToOJMsWU
MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) March 28, 2025

Altman’s endorsement of the Ghibli-style Modi images sparked mixed reactions online. Some users appreciated the post, while others accused him of attempting to appeal to the Indian market.

One user questioned, “Why does Sam Altman like India?” Another commented, “He knows the market.” A third wrote, “The guy who created the style gets zero, and others make millions. What a world we are living in!” Others, however, simply thanked Altman for sharing the images, with one user posting, “Thanks, Sam.”

The Ghibli-style artwork generated by AI models has reignited discussions on intellectual property and artistic integrity. The style, which has been widely associated with Studio Ghibli, was pioneered by the legendary Japanese animation studio, founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki. Critics argue that AI-generated images in this style exploit the aesthetic without compensating or crediting the original creators.

As the trend gained momentum, an old video of Hayao Miyazaki resurfaced online, in which the renowned filmmaker harshly criticised AI-generated artwork. The clip showed Miyazaki reprimanding AI researchers who presented him with AI-generated images, describing them as "insulting to life itself."