MrBeast Warns AI-Generated Videos Could Threaten Creators’ Livelihoods

Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast, the world’s top-earning YouTube creator with an estimated $85 million in earnings for 2025, has expressed serious concerns about the rising impact of AI-generated videos on the creator economy. In a social media post in early October 2025, MrBeast described the current moment as "scary times," warning that AI-powered video tools could disrupt the ability of millions of creators to make a living by producing authentic content.

MrBeast questioned how the growing ease of generating realistic AI videos—enabled by technologies like OpenAI’s Sora 2 and YouTube’s new AI editing features—might affect creators who rely on their unique creativity and effort. These tools allow users to create, edit, and share AI-generated video content that can closely mimic traditional videos, raising concerns about the devaluation of human-made work.

Despite his own past experimentation with AI, including a thumbnail-generating AI tool he later retracted, MrBeast emphasized his commitment to protecting the creator community. He highlighted the challenge smaller creators face in competing with AI-generated content that can be produced quickly and at scale, potentially flooding platforms and saturating audiences. This, he stressed, could threaten creators' livelihoods and fundamentally change the digital ecosystem.

MrBeast’s concerns come amid rapid advancements in AI video generation technology and its integration into popular platforms. OpenAI's Sora 2 launched a mobile app that lets users create personalized AI videos easily, quickly becoming a top app in the U.S. Meanwhile, YouTube introduced new AI features to animate still images, apply stylistic effects, and generate clips from longer videos, further expanding AI’s role.

As the most influential YouTuber with over 634 million followers across platforms, MrBeast’s warning resonates deeply within the creator economy. His position as 2025’s top creator by earnings underscores the growing tension between technological innovation and the economic realities of digital content creation.

Sources:

• MrBeast on AI threat to creators and $85M earnings, Autogpt.net, October 2025autogpt

• Business Insider on MrBeast’s AI concerns, October 2025businessinsider

• TechCrunch on AI impact and MrBeast’s views, October 2025techcrunch

• Business Today on AI tools and creator economy, October 2025businesstoday

• vidIQ YouTube stats on MrBeast earnings and influence, October 2025vidiq