March 26, 2025, 02:30 AM PDT – ChatGPT now offers advanced image generation through OpenAI’s GPT-4o model, a feature unveiled on March 25, 2025. The upgrade, announced during a livestream event, allows users to create and edit photorealistic images, marking a significant step forward in AI capabilities.
OpenAI’s GPT-4o model, introduced in May 2024, already handled text, vision, and audio. The new feature replaces DALL-E 3, OpenAI’s previous image-generation tool, with a more integrated approach. Unlike DALL-E 3, which relied on a diffusion transformer, GPT-4o generates images within its multimodal framework, producing more accurate and detailed visuals, as noted by TechRadar. Users can now describe an image in ChatGPT, specifying details like colors or aspect ratio, and the model will create it. The feature is available to Plus, Pro, Team, and Free users, with plans to include Enterprise and Edu users soon.
The upgrade has generated buzz in the tech world, with VentureBeat reporting that users are impressed by the “insane” quality of the images. Businesses, educators, and creators can benefit from generating visuals directly in ChatGPT, saving time on design tasks. The model also supports image editing, allowing users to modify existing visuals or add details, which could help small companies produce professional-grade marketing materials without hiring designers.
However, the technology raises concerns. OpenAI trained GPT-4o on publicly available data and proprietary sources, potentially including copyrighted artwork, which has sparked debate about ethical use. Artists worry that AI-generated images could oversaturate the market, impacting their livelihoods, while educators fear misuse in academic settings, such as creating fake visuals for projects. OpenAI has not disclosed specific details about the training data, adding to the uncertainty.
What’s next? OpenAI plans to extend the feature to its API, allowing developers to integrate image generation into new applications. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on creative industries and ethical challenges will remain a focal point for the tech community.
