MrBeast says AI could threaten creators’ livelihoods, calling it ‘scary times’ for the industry (techcrunch.com)

Top creator MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) warned on social media that AI-generated videos could threaten “millions of creators currently making content for a living,” calling it “scary times.” The comment matters because Donaldson—No. 1 on Forbes’ 2025 creators list with 634 million followers—sets industry tone. His remarks follow rapid advances and rollouts: OpenAI’s Sora 2 audio/video generator and its mobile app (a TikTok-style feed that quickly hit No. 1 on the U.S. App Store) and YouTube’s own AI tooling, including the Veo video model for animating stills or restyling footage, algorithmic clipping/highlights, and an AI assistant inside YouTube Studio. Technically, these tools lower production barriers by automating editing, animation and even full video generation, which could scale output and depress demand for human labor—especially for mid- and small-tier creators. The community is split: some see AI as enabling new creators, others call AI videos low-quality “slop.” Key implications include provenance and trust (undisclosed AI use could erode audiences), discovery and monetization shifts as platforms weigh detection and policy, and creative value placed on humans who can design strong prompts and concepts. MrBeast’s own quick reversal on an AI thumbnail tool underscores both the opportunity and reputational risk as the ecosystem adapts.