YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, has removed an artificial intelligence (AI) thumbnail generator following criticism from other content creators.
The tool, which cost $80 per month, was designed to generate thumbnails by copying the visual style, logos, and even faces of popular YouTubers.
The tool was offered through ViewStats, a platform Donaldson co-founded in 2023 alongside Chucky Appleby as part of the creator startup Juice. Although Donaldson is not the sole owner, his name and brand were closely linked to the launch, and Juice helped promote the tool across social media.
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The backlash began when several creators noticed their branding had been used in the tool’s examples without permission. The deleted promo video shared on X showed the tool producing images that mirrored the designs of well-known channels.
In response, Donaldson posted on X that the tool had been taken down and replaced with a page that connects users to actual thumbnail designers. He described this change as a reaction to “feedback” and emphasized that creators should be able to find and hire real people for their thumbnail needs.
Donaldson also clarified that the tool was not meant to let users paste someone else’s face into their thumbnails. It was intended only for creators using their own images.
Despite this change, the thumbnail feature remains accessible on the ViewStats platform, although the original promotional videos and posts have been removed.
Meanwhile, students at universities across the UK have increasingly turned to artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT. What are they using AI for? Read the full story.
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