Artificial intelligence is one of the most important inventions of recent times. In today's world, AI is revolutionising every field. It has increased productivity, efficiency, and convenience for many people. However, with the recent developments in AI, a crucial question is emerging — is AI taking over human creativity?

The fear of AI taking over people's jobs was prevalent even before the launch of AI platforms. But people argued that it could never match the creativity of the human mind, and the ability to generate something new.

However, AI has now surpassed these speculations; and with continuous advancement, it can even perform tasks once thought to be the exclusive domain of creative professionals.

It was never imagined that a software programme could create illustrations and paintings like an artist — but here we are today, with AI generating the trending Ghibli-style art.

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Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli, is a Japanese filmmaker and artist. He introduced the now-iconic Ghibli illustration style through his films.

These animated films took several months to complete. Specially crafted animations, with meticulous illustrations and detailed craftsmanship, Ghibli movies portrayed beautiful animation, imbued with emotion and a personal touch.

However, the recent Ghibli image trend is gaining rapid popularity on social media. People are sharing AI-generated images of themselves in the style of a Ghibli movie.

What once took months to craft, with each detail carefully perfected, is now being replicated within minutes by artificial intelligence.

While it may appear to be a harmless social media trend, it raises deeper concerns about the erosion of artistic originality and respect for the creator.

For an artist, their art is one of the most meaningful aspects of their life. It represents their journey, their experiences, and their legacy.

For Hayao Miyazaki, his Ghibli art reflects his unique vision as a filmmaker and artist — a signature style that cannot be authentically reproduced by a machine. Yet, with AI producing similar images en masse, the uniqueness of his work is being diluted.

Artist Seema Kohli expresses her disappointment, stating, “True appreciation for an artist's work comes from recognising and valuing their unique creative journey and the immense effort invested in their craft.”

This trend also highlights ethical concerns. AI is merely mimicking original art, yet it compromises the ownership and consent of the original creator.

Miyazaki's painstakingly created animations are now being reinterpreted by an algorithm in minutes. For an artist, watching their art being reduced to a fleeting trend can feel deeply disheartening.

“AI-generated images may lack the emotional depth and artistry of the original, hand-drawn work. They might even appear in galleries, but will they ever be considered as ‘original’ pieces of art? I doubt it,” says Anoop Kamath, an artist and curator.

This trend serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by unchecked technological advancement — where human creativity and artistic authenticity are sacrificed for visual convenience.

Though AI-generated images may resemble Studio Ghibli’s aesthetic, they lack the emotional nuance and labour that define the original works.

The legacy of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki is truly iconic and deserves to be preserved with reverence. Reducing it to a fleeting social media trend undermines the spirit of the original creator.

“If it is used to mass-produce imitations without respect for the original ethos, it risks being a hollow reproduction rather than a true tribute,” says artist Sangeeta Gupta.

While AI undoubtedly offers benefits across various fields, it is imperative that it does not come at the cost of genuine human creativity.

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