Update on ChatGPT’s Image Generation Capability

Free ChatGPT users will have to wait a while longer to utilize its built-in image generation feature. OpenAI has recently launched a feature that enables users to generate images directly within ChatGPT, initially intended to roll out to all Plus, Pro, Team, and Free users. However, according to company CEO Sam Altman, the feature has been far more popular than expected, exceeding even the high expectations OpenAI had initially. Consequently, the rollout to the free tier is "unfortunately going to be delayed for a while."

Popularity of Image Generation

As tweeted by Sam Altman:

images in chatgpt are wayyyy more popular than we expected (and we had pretty high expectations).
rollout to our free tier is unfortunately going to be delayed for awhile.
— Sam Altman (@sama) March 26, 2025

Users have been extensively sharing ChatGPT’s output on social media platforms. A notable trend emerging from the launch is the conversion of existing photos into Studio Ghibli-style illustrations. Even Altman poked fun at this trend by using a Ghibli-fied photo of himself as his profile picture on X/Twitter. The trend has seen users create Ghibli versions of various images, including personal photos, pictures of political figures, and memes. As noted by VentureBeat, Studio Ghibli creator Hayao Miyazaki likely disapproves of these AI-generated images, given his negative reaction to AI-powered animation in the past. However, this is unlikely to halt the trend until it naturally fades out.

Current Accessibility and Future Plans

Altman did not provide a specific timeline for when the feature will be available to free users. Currently, users who wish to use the chatbot’s built-in generator must log into ChatGPT with a Plus, Pro, or Team account and then select GPT-4o as their AI model in the lower left corner. The delay in rolling out the feature to the free tier is a testament to the overwhelming response to the image generation capability, highlighting the significant interest and creativity it has sparked among users.