MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, voiced concern on X about the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence generated content on YouTube. He cautioned that when Artificial Intelligence videos become as good as conventional productions, the shift could reshape the platform and affect the millions of people who rely on it for income, calling the moment “scary times.” The comments reflect a mounting unease among creators as Artificial Intelligence tools lower barriers to production and flood feeds with synthetic video.
According to the YouTuber, the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence video tools and platforms enables anyone to produce content with minimal effort, potentially hurting creators who invest time and resources into original work. His remarks underscore a broader anxiety that automated creation could dilute attention, erode distinctiveness, and disrupt revenue across the creator economy.
The creator also has personal history with the controversy. Earlier this year, MrBeast faced backlash over an Artificial Intelligence thumbnail generator on Viewstats that let users make thumbnails resembling other creators’ work without permission. He said the feature was intended to help smaller channels improve quality, but after criticism grew he pulled the tool and admitted he “missed the mark.”
His warning coincides with the debut of Sora 2, a new Artificial Intelligence video tool that generates high quality clips from simple prompts and is already drawing pushback online. Meta is experimenting as well, rolling out an Artificial Intelligence only feed for users who want to engage with Artificial Intelligence generated posts, signaling how quickly major platforms are integrating synthetic media into core experiences.
Reaction to MrBeast’s stance is mixed. Some, including business coach Charles E. Gaudet II, argue that Artificial Intelligence will not kill originality and that creators who learn to use the technology will thrive. Others counter that the trend will merely expose non creative or shortcut driven channels. Whether it accelerates creativity or crowds it out, MrBeast’s post captures a pivotal moment for YouTube as Artificial Intelligence reshapes what it means to make and monetize content.
