ChatGPT's Ghibli-style image feature was launched on March 26, 2025. After its launch, the trend became such a viral sensation that OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, had to temporarily introduce some rate limits while working on making it more efficient.
But do you know whose hard work was behind bringing this ideation to life? Meet Grant Slatton, a Seattle-based software engineer who played a pivotal role in popularising AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style portraits.
Following OpenAI's release of its image-generator function, Slatton transformed a personal photograph of himself, his wife, and their dog into an enchanting Ghibli-esque image.
Sharing it on X (formerly Twitter), he remarked, "tremendous alpha right now in sending your wife photos of y'all converted to Studio Ghibli anime."
His post quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 50 million views and inspiring countless others to create and share their AI-generated artwork in the beloved Ghibli style.
Who is Grant Slatton? Early Life, Education, Career, & Personal Life
Although his educational qualifications are not publicly available, here are some of his details:
Grant Slatton is a prominent software engineer with significant contributions to cloud computing and AI technologies.
- AWS S3: He previously worked as a senior engineer at AWS S3, leading the development of custom high-performance storage nodes central to the world's largest cloud storage service.
- Row Zero: Currently, he is a founding engineer at Row Zero, where he has helped create the world's fastest spreadsheet.
- AI Innovations: Slatton played a pivotal role in popularising OpenAI's Ghibli-style image-generation trend. His viral tweet showcasing AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style portraits of his family gained massive traction, helping make the trend mainstream.
He also actively engages in research areas such as machine learning, cloud systems, conversational AI, and optimisation.
Personal Life
Outside of work, Grant Slatton enjoys woodworking, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), and spending time with his wife and their corgi while walking around their Seattle neighbourhood. His interests reflect a balance between technical expertise and creative hobbies.
ChatGPT Ghibli Style Image Generation: Where Does Ghibli Come From?
The term "Ghibli" in Studio Ghibli originates from multiple inspirations tied to its co-founder Hayao Miyazaki's interests and vision:
- Arabic Origin: The word "ghibli" is derived from Arabic, meaning "a fiercely hot wind." Miyazaki adopted this term to symbolise the studio's goal of being a transformative force in the animation industry, akin to a "hot wind" blowing through and reshaping it.
- Italian Aircraft Connection: Miyazaki, an aviation enthusiast, also drew inspiration from the Italian Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli, a World War II-era reconnaissance plane named after the same Mediterranean wind. This connection reflects Miyazaki's lifelong fascination with flight, which is a recurring theme in many Studio Ghibli films.
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