'It Had All The Aesthetics…None Of The Soul': Anupam Mittal Says That Ghibli Isn’t ‘Authentic’

Shaadi.com CEO Anupam Mittal recently took to LinkedIn and shared his thoughts on the Ghibli trend. 

He wrote, “Most people are going crazy over the Ghibli x ChatGPT trend. I tried it myself — typed in a simple prompt, and in under a minute, got an intriguing frame. But when I looked at it closely, it left me with an uncomfortable feeling. That contrast hit me. It had all the aesthetics…none of the soul.”

You can check Anupam Mittal's LinkedIn post here

Anupam Mittal bats for 'authenticity' over aesthetics

The Shark Tank India judge further added that with artificial intelligence, anything can look aesthetic without being authentic.

“We’ve entered an era where anything can look good — instantly. But very few things mean something — authentically,” he wrote.

“I also feel that this is bigger than brand-building. It’s a mirror to everything we create in a post-AI world. It’s not unusual to come across a resume full of keywords, but no clear story, a pitch deck with slick slides, but no cohesion and a brand story that sounds cool, but says nothing,” he remarked.

We all seem to be optimizing for impressions, not impact. But now, with AI, the margin for fakery has disappeared. Perhaps the question should change from - “Can you create something beautiful?” to - “Does it reflect who you are?” Because in a world where everything is polished, the true value might lie in being authentic,” the 

Shaadi.com boss concluded.

Many LinkedIn users agreed with Mittal’s thoughts, commending him.

One LinkedIn user wrote, “In an era where AI can make anything look good, the real flex is making something feel real. Aesthetics without authenticity is like a wedding without vows—grand, but empty. The real magic isn’t in the polish, it’s in the purpose.”

“True! It's not just about aesthetics, but the story and values behind it,” commented another user.

Also read: 'India Is Outpacing The World': OpenAI Founder Sam Altman Praises India For Quick AI Adoption (startuppedia.in)