MrBeast Axes AI Thumbnail Generator Amid Backlash Over 'Cheating' Tools
YouTube sensation MrBeast has withdrawn his AI thumbnail generator just days after its announcement due to overwhelming criticism.
Following a week of intense criticism, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) has eliminated the AI tool he recently launched on his Viewstats platform, intended to aid creators in producing better YouTube thumbnails. The AI generator, part of an $80 monthly service, aimed to create viral thumbnails but faced disdainful feedback from users who deemed its use as unethical.
In a promotional video for the tool, Donaldson likened it to cheating, asserting users could take inspiration from any channel on YouTube for their thumbnail designs, further accelerating the backlash.
Donaldson later declared, “I intended to assist smaller creators in enhancing their thumbnails but regrettably misjudged the situation.” In response to the feedback, he proposed a directory of professional thumbnail artists that creators could hire instead.
MrBeast at YouTube BrandCast in May 2025
Image credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
Popular YouTuber Jacksepticeye reacted sharply, lamenting the promotion of AI tools as detrimental to the community: “What the actual heck… he even used my logo in the promotion! I despise what this platform is evolving into.”
Despite the backlash, some creators expressed interest in the AI generator, revealing a growing divide in the content creator community on the subject of generative AI’s role in artistic creation.
