ChatGPT’s Image Tool Has Become A Goldmine For Scammers
- OpenAI’s GPT-4o transforms everyday photos into Studio Ghibli-inspired masterpieces using pixel-by-pixel technology.
- Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki denounces AI art as “an insult to life itself”.
- Growing concerns over AI’s potential misuse as fraudsters create fake accident photos for insurance claims.
After changing how we write, code, and plan our lives, ChatGPT is now coming for the world of visual art — and not subtly either. OpenAI’s new image generation feature, that is built into its GPT-4o model, has become popular on the internet because of its ability to turn ordinary user photos into ethereal works of art that look like they were taken straight out of a Studio Ghibli film.
However, this powerful tool has also led to increasing concerns about AI’s potential misuse in fraudulent activities, particularly in insurance claims.
The tech used in generating this art, which captures the enchanting essence of Studio Ghibli’s distinctive style, is nothing short of impressive. GPT-4o doesn’t just reinterpret your selfie with a filter. It constructs images pixel by pixel, in order, like an artist with infinite patience and robotic precision. This makes the results of this model much better than those of the earlier models like DALL-E 3, which refined the image through noise.
The latest technology has become wildly viral, with people transforming their everyday photos into Ghibli-style universes while having no artistic abilities whatsoever. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined the fun and updated his profile picture to a Ghibli-style portrait — one of many circulating across social media. In a matter of weeks, the system has made something once reserved for elite illustrators available to anyone with an internet connection. However, not everyone is thrilled.
Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, didn’t hold back when asked about AI-generated visuals. He’s long been a critic of the use of AI in art and described it as “an insult to life itself.” And for a man whose work is based on painstaking, human-crafted animation, the sentiment isn’t surprising.
But it’s not just artistic concerns that are making people go feral over the latest technology. Others are sounding alarms for practical reasons because when the tech gets smarter, so do the scammers.
Reports have surfaced of individuals using ChatGPT for the purpose of fraud. In one now-viral post on the subreddit r/chatgptricks, a user showed how they used GPT-4o’s image generation to create a fake photo of a BMW with rear-end damage. The AI art included believable scuffs, bent panels, and even lighting consistent with a real-world parking lot. As a result of this insurance industry experts are worried that such easy access to AI tools could lead to an increase in fraudulent claims.
And it’s not just car damage either. GPT is being used to fabricate receipts, accident scenes, and even product photos for refund scams. What began as an expression of creativity is quickly becoming a tool in the digital scammer’s arsenal.
All of this is pushing legal experts into unknown territory. Artistic styles aren’t protected by the law, but copying the feel of a Ghibli film can bring creators dangerously close to intellectual property boundaries, and the reproduction of specific elements from copyright works remains a grey area requiring clearer definition.
Meanwhile, OpenAI finds itself at the centre of another difficult balancing act: preserving creative potential without letting the tech become a toolkit for deception.
As the lines between digital art and digital forgery blur, so does the divide between innovation and accountability. Tools like GPT-4o can make visual storytelling accessible in ways that were never before possible — but they also demand a new kind of responsibility, from creators and tech companies alike.Whether this wave of AI-generated images becomes a renaissance or a regulatory nightmare depends on how fast the industry reacts and whether users embrace its creative promise or exploit its more questionable powers. In the meantime, enjoy the Ghibli skies. Just maybe leave the fake insurance claims in the drafts.
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