YouTube star MrBeast has changed course on his recent AI thumbnail tool announcement after it received backlash online from other creators. While not all feedback on the YouTube creator's idea was negative, it appears it was enough for MrBeast to change direction with the idea.
As MrBeast continues to smash subscriber count records on YouTube, his influence on and off the platform continues to grow. The star now boasts over 400 million subscribers, thanks to the high-concept videos that he has been producing since 2012. MrBeast recently announced a new generative AI tool to help creators "generate viral thumbnails," which would be made available to users in an $80 per month package. Many immediately took issue with MrBeast's promotion of the tool, with Jacksepticeye noting the use of his own logo without permission.
MrBeast Says He Personally Has 'Very Little Money' and is Borrowing from His Mom
MrBeast responds to recent claims regarding his apparent wealth, and says he actually has very little money and is borrowing from his mother.
Following the backlash among his fellow YouTube creators, MrBeast has wasted no time in pulling the AI thumbnail generator tool. In a video posted on X, he claimed that while he only aimed to "help small creators make better thumbnails," he "definitely missed the mark." He reiterated after removing the tool that "My goal here is to build tools to help creators, and if creators don't want the tools, no worries, it's not that big a deal," also pointing out that "it deeply makes me sad when I do something that, you know, people in the community are upset by."
MrBeast Cancels AI Thumbnail Generator
Although the accomplished YouTuber may have gotten the community sentiment wrong on this one, MrBeast is immediately looking to make amends. In place of the AI generation tools, the platform intended to host them, ViewStats, will now host a directory of thumbnail artists instead. This will allow creators to look through artists' portfolios and commission "a real thumbnail artist to make you a real thumbnail, turning this negative situation into something positive that helps artists generate more income doing what they love."
Generative AI in technology and gaming is becoming a more contentious issue by the day, with plenty of controversy whenever a company is found to use it. The impact it could have on many industries going forward is tremendous, especially as the technology sees more widespread use in different fields.
