OpenAI has opened up its AI-powered image generation tool to all users, including those on the free tier, in a move that has sparked a surge in new signups. The expansion, which began on March 29 and concluded by April 1, was announced by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Altman revealed that within just one hour of the rollout, one million new users had signed up to try the tool. “ChatGPT’s launch was one of the most viral moments I’ve seen, taking five days to reach a million users. This time, we hit that milestone in just an hour,” Altman stated.
Previously, the image generation feature was only available to paid subscribers under the ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team plans. However, due to growing demand and enthusiasm from the AI community, OpenAI decided to expand access to all users, regardless of their subscription level.
Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o model, the tool enables users to create striking visuals directly within ChatGPT. It has been particularly praised for its ability to produce highly detailed artwork, including Studio Ghibli-inspired animations. Social media has since been flooded with AI-generated art, as users experiment with the tool’s creative capabilities.
In a blog post, OpenAI emphasised the model’s advanced capabilities, stating that it excels in rendering text accurately, following complex prompts, and integrating uploaded images for enhanced creativity. “GPT-4o brings a new level of precision and artistic depth to AI image generation,” the company noted. To manage high demand, OpenAI has placed limits on usage. Free-tier users can generate up to three images per day, while paid subscribers enjoy higher limits, allowing for more extensive creative exploration.