OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently highlighted a viral trend involving AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style art, spotlighting a series of images featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, shared by the Indian government’s MyGovIndia account. The artwork, created using OpenAI’s latest image generation tool in ChatGPT, reimagines PM Modi in various scenarios, including diplomatic meetings with world leaders like Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron; and cultural moments like praying at Ayodhya Ram Mandir and interacting with children.
This trend stems from a broader social media wave where users globally have been leveraging OpenAI’s tool to produce Ghibli-inspired art, leading to an overwhelming demand that prompted Altman to announce temporary rate limits on March 30, 2025, citing that the company’s GPUs were “melting” under pressure.
The Indian government’s participation in the trend, captioned “Main character? No. He’s the whole storyline. Experience through New India in Studio Ghibli strokes,” showcases Modi’s tenure through 12 Ghibli-style images, reflecting key moments like his role in infrastructure projects such as the Vande Bharat Express and symbolic gestures like holding the Sengol in the new Parliament.
Altman’s acknowledgment of the Modi artwork comes amid OpenAI’s growing focus on India, where the company has tripled its user base over the past year, making it OpenAI’s second-largest market, as stated during Altman’s visit to India in February 2025.
The viral Ghibli trend has also sparked debate, with an old video of Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki resurfacing, where he criticized AI-generated animation as “an insult to life itself,” highlighting tensions between traditional artistry and AI innovation.
The timing of Altman’s post coincides with increasing speculation about OpenAI’s expansion into India, with users on X asking about a potential office opening in the country.
