OpenAI delays updates due to overwhelming demand for new image tool

In March 2025, OpenAI made headlines with the launch of a new image generation tool for ChatGPT, allowing users to request pictures similarly to how they request text. This innovative feature quickly captured public interest, leading to a surge in user-generated content such as transforming personal photos into the artistic style of Studio Ghibli, a well-known Japanese animation studio. The virality of these requests resulted in an immense demand that overwhelmed the company’s computational resources, leading to severe strain on their graphics processing units (GPUs). OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, expressed his concern over this unprecedented level of engagement. With a significant influx of users, ChatGPT added a staggering one million new users within just one hour of launching the image generation feature. This explosive growth posed substantial challenges for OpenAI's infrastructure, reminiscent of the original launch of ChatGPT when it became the most popular app, managing to pull in a million users in a mere five days. As the demand for the new image generation tool surged, it prompted Altman to publicly request that users ease their requests to allow the development team some necessary breathing space. Altman indicated that this overwhelming interest in their latest feature had 'melted' the computers used to handle such tasks. The community's fervor did not go unnoticed; Altman humorously but urgently tweeted for users to “chill on generating images”, as the situation was severely impacting the team's ability to fulfill requests efficiently. While OpenAI is working on addressing this capacity challenge, Altman warned users that delays in new feature releases are expected, and the service levels may fluctuate in terms of performance and reliability. This occurrence highlights the growing appetite for advanced AI tools and raises questions about the scalability of such technology. As more people gain access to sophisticated features, companies like OpenAI must adapt quickly to meet user demands to sustain interest and maintain their competitive edge in the AI landscape. In turn, this scenario has spotlighted the intense pressure on tech companies to innovate while ensuring user satisfaction amid surging popularity.