Everybody's creating an anime version of themselves. Even your boss, your favourite celebrities, and hold on… is that the Prime Minister of India in a Ghibli scene? It's enjoyable. But under that charm is something much more calculated, and potentially dangerous.

(Source: MyGovIndia on X)

This is not just any other trend. This is a tech experiment, where you unknowingly volunteered your face, your identity and your data.

So, the question is “Who's really winning with this Ghibli trend?”

What really happens when you upload your selfie?

The Ghibli craze fuelled by AI apps such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Grok AI, and dozens of other AI apps. But here's the thing they don't mention while you're numerously creating your anime versions:

Each time you upload your image
• Your facial geometry gets saved
• Emotional states and pose changes are scanned
• Location metadata from your device gets recorded
• The image gets used to train the AI further.

(Fact: Over 130 million users have generated more than 700 million images since the upgraded image generator launched in ChatGPT on March 25.)

And while you posted it on Instagram for laughs and loves… you gave AI systems the permission to learn using your image.

You agreed to more than just a cute pic

Here's the true genius play!
When you uploaded your Ghibli image you also granted rights to use your data in model training, reuse of generated content for future promotions, and since these creations were posted publicly, the companies now had complete legal protection under their Terms of Service to retain and utilize your data.

(Source: https://br24.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/chatgpt.png)

Is this still art, or just copy-paste creativity?

The Ghibli aesthetic is rooted in the hand drawn pictures of Hayao Miyazaki and the team at Studio Ghibli. But what about Ai reproducing that signature look, without permission or compensation?

While styles aren’t protected by copyright law, original artwork is, making this a questionable space.

India is on the focus of this AI narrative

Now here's where it gets really interesting. An anime-style image of PM Narendra Modi was uploaded by his official team during the trend’s boom in India. Shortly after, Sam Altman posted a Ghibli-style version of himself playing cricket wearing Indian jersey.

(Source)

Let's connect the dots:
• Altman met with PM Modi in a high-level meeting on his 2023 India trip
• Our government supporting this trend and Sam Altman showing interest in India.

Obviously, this wasn't only a viral filter, it was a calculated move by Sam Altman as India has the second largest population in the world.

Conclusion

Let's break down this Ghibli trend:
1. Fetched tens of millions of faces across continents
2. Copied copyrighted art styles without permission
3. Entered into political and cultural space
4. Foundation for mass data harvesting in the background
5. Became a marketing vehicle for OpenAI and its partners

Have you ever thought what worst will happen if these data sets fall into the wrong hands.They could be used for deepfakes, surveillance, identity theft, or even behavioural tracking, turning something fun into a powerful tool for manipulation and misuse.

Next time a trend demands your face, you may want to ask:

"Am I using the product or I am getting used?"

FAQ:

Q. What is the Ghibli Trend?
A. A trending AI filter that turns pictures into anime-style portraits reminiscent of Studio Ghibli animation.

Q. Is copying an art style legal?
A. Art styles are not copyrighted, but individual works are. Applying them as training data without permission is morally questionable.

Q. What are the privacy issues?
A. You permit (by way of terms) face and image data to be saved, reused, or utilised in training models.