OpenAI’s recent introduction of an image generation feature in ChatGPT-4o has caused quite a stir, as users embraced the opportunity to create soft, dreamlike images reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films. This new tool is available to all users, including those on free, pro, plus, and team accounts. Almost immediately, it went viral, with users transforming their profile pictures, pets, movie scenes, and even historical moments into delicate anime-style artworks. Celebrities like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and X CEO Elon Musk even joined the fun, further fueling the trend on social media platforms like X.

However, many users, particularly free-tier users, faced challenges when attempting to generate images. While the feature quickly became popular, some users struggled to create even a single image. Many received error messages indicating that their requests did not meet OpenAI’s content policy guidelines. In a statement on X, Sam Altman acknowledged the issue, explaining that ChatGPT was mistakenly refusing certain generations that should be allowed. He assured users that OpenAI was working on a fix to resolve this problem.

The issue seemed particularly prevalent among free users, likely due to limitations with choosing specific models when submitting prompts. Since the platform automatically switches between models depending on server load, free-tier users may have been routed to models that do not support the image generation feature. Although the problem is expected to be fixed soon, Altman confirmed that OpenAI was aware of the situation and working on it.

Altman also addressed another growing concern: the overwhelming demand for the feature had caused significant strain on OpenAI’s GPUs. To alleviate this, the company will soon introduce rate limits on image generation requests, with free-tier users receiving a maximum of three generations per day. This temporary measure aims to manage server load and improve efficiency while ensuring that the service remains accessible to everyone. Altman expressed hope that the adjustments would only be temporary and that the experience would improve soon.

IT.