YouTube’s most-followed individual creator, Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, has been forced to walk back a newly launched AI-powered thumbnail generator after intense community backlash over its use of creators’ visual styles, logos, and faces without permission.
The AI tool, available through the ViewStats platform he co-developed, was advertised as an $80-per-month subscription service aimed at helping small YouTubers produce more compelling thumbnails.
However, within days of launch, creators noticed the software was capable of mimicking the unique styles of other channels—sometimes even showcasing their assets without approval in its promotional content.
One of the loudest critics was popular YouTuber Jacksepticeye, who found his logo used in ViewStats' marketing without consent.
He wrote on X,
“What the actual fuck... and he used my logo in the promotion for it too. I hate what this platform is turning into. Fuck AI.”
In response to the backlash, Donaldson quickly removed the AI thumbnail generator and announced changes in a video shared on X.
“A week ago, I launched an AI thumbnail tool that helped small creators make better thumbnails. I thought people were going to be pretty excited about it, but I definitely missed the mark.”
He confirmed that the AI feature had been removed and replaced with a new functionality that allows users to connect directly with real thumbnail artists for hire.
“We’ve added an option to hire a thumbnail artist, where you’ll be able to commission a real thumbnail artist to make you a real thumbnail.”
The promotional materials that once showcased the tool have since been taken down.
MrBeast's now-deleted X post
However, the ViewStats website still hosts the service, raising questions about the extent of the rollback.
The controversy has sparked wider debate across the YouTube community.
Critics said the AI model replicated the distinctive creative styles of others, potentially violating artistic and intellectual property boundaries.
One X user noted,
“It steals creator’s and artist’s hard work, and serves to aid corporations rather than people when you pay 80$ per month.”
MrBeast Responds:
“It Deeply Makes Me Sad”
In the same followed up video, Donaldson addressed the situation more personally, expressing regret over upsetting fellow creators.
“It deeply makes me sad when I do something that, you know, people in the community are upset by.”
He also attempted to distance himself from the narrative that he was trying to replace creatives with AI.
“I guarantee you, I have spent more money on thumbnail artists than any other YouTuber in the world. I’ve probably spent more money on thumbnail artists than the top 100 creators combined.”
He added that ViewStats’ mission is to “build tools that help creators,” but insisted he would respect the community’s preferences.
“If creators don’t want the tools, no worries. It’s not that big of a deal.”
This incident reveals more than just a misstep by a high-profile YouTuber—it highlights a growing tension between human creators and generative AI.
While tools like this offer low-cost, accessible design options to emerging YouTubers, they also pose serious risks to originality, consent, and creator livelihoods.
As AI increasingly intersects with content creation, platforms will have to reckon with whose work gets replicated, who gets compensated, and how the balance between innovation and ethics is maintained.
The speed of AI development may be exciting for some—but to many creatives, it’s beginning to feel like a race they were never asked to join.
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