We’re Living in a Time Where Images Are No Longer Scarce
The rise of AI-generated imagery and video has transformed the creative world. With ChatGPT’s newly released GPT-4o image generation and platforms like Runway, creators are now capable of producing visually compelling content at unprecedented speed. A trending example is the use of these tools to generate anime-style trailers for works like The Lord of the Rings. The results? Stunning visuals, smooth pacing, and natural-sounding AI-generated voices.
Another viral example is the so-called "Ghiblification" trend, where personal photos and memes are transformed into the distinct, hand-drawn style of Miyazaki’s iconic animations. This has taken social media by storm owing to the new ChatGPT feature, further highlighting how accessible and immediate visual content creation has become.
However, upon closer examination, many of these projects are not original compositions but frame-by-frame reproductions of the original trailers. The camera angles, scene timing, and character placements are meticulously copied. It’s not AI creating something new; it’s AI replicating what already exists.
GPT-4o and the Next Leap in Visual AI
The new GPT-4o image generation algorithm uses an autoregressive approach, constructing images element by element to improve overall visual coherence. This methodology helps generate detailed, high-quality scenes, but it also raises the bar for distinguishing between creative generation and mechanical reproduction.
Automation Isn’t Creation—Human Vision Still Matters
AI can make beautiful frames and great-sounding music. But it still can’t decide when to show a certain shot, or how to build up emotion for a dramatic reveal. These are decisions based on human intuition, empathy, and narrative flow.
This leads to a broader question: What happens when we rely too much on automation in creativity?
As early as 2016, legendary Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎駿) watched a demonstration of AI-generated animation and delivered a scathing critique. He remarked: “I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.” He added, “I feel like we are nearing the end of times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves.” His response has recently resurfaced online, being hailed as a prophetic warning about the overreach of generative AI and the hollowing out of artistic intuition.
And while machines may now be able to generate intricate drawings at the click of a button, the reality remains: A machine can draw a picture, but it can’t feel the wind. This underscores the core issue—not technical capability, but the absence of visceral experience and emotive understanding that continues to separate tool from creator.
In the Age of Excess, Vision Is Scarce
We are overwhelmed by content—endless visuals, infinite remixes. But what remains rare and valuable is the ability to see what others don’t. Not just to generate, but to express. It’s not about “AI versus artists,” but about something deeper:
Technological progress vs. emotional depth
AI can output, but it cannot feel. Miyazaki’s works, such as Nausicaä and Spirited Away, are not simply animation masterpieces. They are philosophical reflections on humanity, nature, and society—something no dataset can replicate.
Storyboarding is storytelling, not collage
Even if the AI-generated LOTR trailer looks good, its emotional impact stems from the original. Storyboarding is a language—each angle, cut, and pacing choice is a narrative decision, not just an aesthetic one.
Creators vs. AI craftsmen
Many so-called “AI directors” are simply executing tasks efficiently using tools. True creators extract insights from their lives and emotions, translating them into art. AI might assist in execution, but it lacks that spark of perspective.
So What’s Next?
The next evolution isn’t about whether AI can draw like Miyazaki—it’s whether someone can use AI to convey their own story in a way that resonates deeply. The tools are here, but the vision still has to come from us. Creativity isn’t just producing; it’s feeling, interpreting, and connecting.
What’s Your Take?
Does AI-generated content make creativity more liberated or more formulaic?
Have you seen an AI creation that made you say, “Nope, this still needs a human touch”?
Let’s talk about it.
#AIContentCreation #GPT4o #ChatGPTImages #Storyboarding #Runway #AIArtEthics #宮崎駿 #EmotionalDepth #GenerativeAI #FutureOfCreativity #OpenAI #CreativeTools
中文摘要
我們正處於一個 AI 可一鍵生成影像與影片的時代，這無疑為創作帶來革命性改變。尤其是 ChatGPT 最新釋出的 GPT-4o 圖像生成功能，搭配 Runway 等影片工具，讓創作者可在短時間內製作出極具視覺吸引力的作品。除了以《魔戒》風格製作動畫預告之外，近日瘋傳的「Ghiblification」風潮，亦是將照片、梗圖轉換成宮崎駿風格手繪畫的 AI 功能應用，讓視覺創作不再遙不可及。
不過許多作品其實並非原創，而是 AI 根據既有素材進行「高擬真複製」。這反映出 AI 在畫面重建上表現驚人，但在敘事與創意層面仍受限於人類輸入。GPT-4o 所採用的自回歸架構提升了圖像一致性，但「畫面結構該何時出現」、「情緒該如何鋪陳」這些創作決定仍仰賴人類直覺。
早在 2016 年，宮崎駿便直指 AI 創作是「對生命的侮辱」，他認為人類正逐漸失去對自身的信心。這些言論近期再度引發廣泛共鳴，彷彿預示了 AI 時代的藝術危機。機器能畫圖，但風從哪裡來、為什麼起風，仍須人類去感受與解釋。未來不在於 AI 是否能畫出宮崎駿的風格，而在於我們能否用 AI 工具說出屬於自己的故事。
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