- ChatGPT’s viral image generator is now available to all users, including those on the free tier, with limited daily access.
- The tool, powered by GPT-4o, had its free rollout delayed due to overwhelming demand but is now fully accessible.
- OpenAI recently raised $40 billion in funding, pushing its valuation to $300 billion — the largest private tech funding round ever.
OpenAI has officially made its advanced image generation tool available to all ChatGPT users, including those on the free tier. The feature, powered by the GPT-4o model, has captured global attention for its ability to create striking visuals, including viral Studio Ghibli-style recreations. Initially exclusive to paid users due to overwhelming demand, the rollout to free users had been postponed but is now complete.
The feature first launched on March 25 and was intended to be accessible across all subscription levels — Free, Plus, Pro, and Team. However, the massive surge in user interest caused OpenAI to temporarily restrict access to paying customers only. The company cited hardware constraints at the time, as servers struggled to keep up with the influx of image generation requests.
Now available to everyone, the tool does come with some limitations. While OpenAI hasn’t provided detailed usage guidelines, free-tier users reportedly get a small number of image generations per day — believed to be three — before being prompted to upgrade to a paid plan. This aligns with earlier indications from OpenAI leadership on usage caps for non-paying users.
Despite the restricted access for free users, the expansion marks a significant step in making generative AI tools more widely available to the public. The updated image generation system adds another dimension to ChatGPT’s capabilities, enabling users to not only converse with the AI but also bring their ideas to life visually with ease.
The announcement comes just after OpenAI secured an additional $40 billion in funding, bringing its valuation to a staggering $300 billion. This milestone represents the largest private funding round in tech history and signals continued investor confidence in OpenAI’s aggressive push to lead the artificial intelligence race.
