ChatGPT promises image generation for free tier as feature is ‘melting’ GPUs

Avatar for Andrew Romero | Mar 28 2025 - 8:18 am PT
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ChatGPT launched GPT 4o some days ago, and it has been met with a barrage of users trying out the AI model’s new image generation features. The company announced that the new surge of users is “melting” GPUs, and free-tier ChatGPT users will soon get limited image generation access.

ChatGPT 4o brings a new image generation feature that’s actually very good, in terms of AI generation. The addition gained popularity as users have been sending each otherStudio Ghibli versions of themselves. The trend has garnered even more attention towards the chatbot, and what attention had waned for the AI model has come back in full force.

ChatGPT CEOSam Altman took to Twitter/X to express appreciation for the sudden surge of activity and the positive feedback. With that, he also announced that the internal GPUs used for processing image generations are “melting.” Though this is likely hyperbolic, there could be some truth to that with overheating concerns, but the post doesn’t go into detail. What it does mean is that so many users are asking ChatGPT to create Studio Ghibli versions of themselves that the company’s servers can’t keep up.

One nice announcement to come out of the post was that users on the free ChatGPT tier will soon get 3 image generations per day, as opposed to none. Currently, users need to pay $20/month to tryChatGPT Plus. With that, you get access to ChatGPT 4o and all its image-generation prowess. Users even get access to Sora.

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chatgpt free tier will get 3 generations per day soon.

The post goes on to note that rate limits will be imposed temporarily. It’s unclear if those limits have cleared or if they’ll stay in place for some time.

There is no date just yet for the free tier expansion, but it could be expected relatively soon if the post is to be believed.

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