MrBeast Scraps AI Tool After Creator Backlash
MrBeast at YouTube BrandCast in May 2025. (Image credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
In a rapid turnaround following a week of intense online debate, the world's most popular YouTuber, MrBeast (aka Jimmy Donaldson), has pulled a new generative AI tool from his creator-focused platform.
The Rise and Swift Fall of an AI Tool
The controversy began with the launch of an AI-powered thumbnail generator on MrBeast's Viewstats platform, a suite of resources designed to help creators expand their YouTube channels. The tool, which was part of an $80/month subscription package, promised to generate "viral thumbnails" for users. While some saw it as a useful new feature, it triggered a massive negative response from a large segment of the creator community who view generative AI as unethical, unoriginal, and potentially harmful to artists.
Creator Backlash and a "Cheating" Controversy
Fueling the fire, the promotional video for the tool featured Donaldson himself making some candid, and what turned out to be controversial, statements. In the announcement video, he admitted that using the thumbnail generator "literally feels like cheating." The promo also showed that users could "type in any channel on all of YouTube, and it will use it as inspiration," which many interpreted as a tool for copying the styles of other successful creators.
This did not sit well with his peers. Fellow YouTuber Jacksepticeye voiced his frustration, stating, "What the actual fuck... and he used my logo in the promotion for it too. I hate what this platform is turning into. Fuck AI."
Listening to the Community: The Pivot to Human Artists
Responding to the widespread criticism, Donaldson announced on Friday that the tool had been removed. In a move to appease critics and show support for human artists, it was replaced with a directory of thumbnail artists available for hire.
Hey! Thanks for all your feedback on the ViewStats AI thumbnail tool, we pulled it and added a funnel for creators to find real thumbnail artists to commission pic.twitter.com/ICrB8NFyuC — June 27, 2025
In his follow-up, Donaldson framed the decision as a direct response to community feedback, sidestepping a personal stance on AI. "My goal here is to build tools to help creators," he said, "and if creators don't want the tools, no worries, it's not that big a deal."
A Growing Divide in the Creator Economy
The incident highlights a growing rift in the online world. While many creators are vehemently against AI, others, including some verified accounts who replied to MrBeast's announcement, were disappointed to see the tool go. This reflects a larger societal and corporate division on the topic.
Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Adobe are aggressively integrating AI tools into their products. In contrast, many creative and media powerhouses are fighting back. For example, Disney and Universal recently filed a lawsuit against the AI image generator Midjourney, which they labeled as "a bottomless pit of plagiarism." MrBeast's brief and tumultuous venture into AI tools serves as a potent case study of this ongoing and passionate debate.
