MrBeast Sounds the Alarm: Are YouTubers 'Cooked' Thanks to AI and Sora 2?

Oct 16, 2025

MrBeast is warning that artificial intelligence—especially OpenAI’s new Sora 2 video generator—could upend YouTube’s $35 billion creator economy. As hyper-realistic AI videos flood the internet, creators fear their jobs and authenticity are on the line.

Here’s the TL;DR...

MrBeast raised alarm on October 5, 2025, via X, calling AI-generated videos “scary” for the millions of YouTube creators. Casey Neistat echoed his concerns, saying creators are “so cooked.”
Sora 2, launched October 1, 2025, by OpenAI, produces lifelike short-form videos with avatars, topping the U.S. App Store charts and sparking deepfake scandals.
AI Flood Risks: Sora 2’s realism threatens to saturate YouTube with low-cost content, forcing MrBeast to abandon his own AI thumbnail tool after backlash.
Deepfake Fallout: Fake Jake Paul and Whoopi Goldberg videos raise copyright and trust issues.
Future Unclear: MrBeast and other creators call for authenticity badges, regulation, or a return to human creativity to save the platform.

What Did MrBeast Say About AI Threatening YouTube Creators?

On October 5, 2025, Jimmy Donaldson—known globally as MrBeast—posted on X: “When AI videos are just as good as normal videos, I wonder what that will do to YouTube and how it will impact the millions of creators currently making content for a living.. scary times.” The post gained 2.5 million views within hours.

With 443 million subscribers and $85 million in 2025 earnings (per Forbes), MrBeast’s comment hit home across the creator community. His reply to Casey Neistat’s “so cooked” remark—asking, “What do we do now?”—encapsulates the growing panic among YouTube’s 50 million creators dependent on ad revenue.

How Does Sora 2 Impact the YouTube Creator Economy?

Launched October 1, 2025, OpenAI’s Sora 2 allows users to generate realistic short-form videos with avatars and full soundscapes from simple prompts. The tool, integrated with GPT-4o, has gone viral for its ability to render lifelike motion and expressions.

While celebrated for its innovation, Sora 2 quickly stirred controversy by enabling deepfakes. By lowering the barrier to video creation, experts warn it could overwhelm YouTube with synthetic content, undermining the $35 billion creator economy tracked by Influencer Marketing Hub in 2024. Small creators are especially vulnerable as the platform becomes saturated with machine-made “content slop.”

What Are the Risks of AI Video Tools for Content Creators?

AI tools promise convenience—but at the cost of authenticity. MrBeast himself faced backlash when he co-launched ViewStats.ai in July 2025, an AI thumbnail optimizer that boasted a 20% click-through boost. Critics like Jacksepticeye called it “lazy,” forcing MrBeast to pull it after just one week.

He apologized, writing: “I care more than any of you could ever imagine about the YouTube community. It deeply makes me sad when I do something that people in the community are upset by.”

Meanwhile, YouTube’s own AI tools, including Veo and auto-clip generators released in October 2025, blur the line between creator assistance and content automation. Business Insider labeled it “a hot-button issue for the digital age.”

How Have Deepfakes from Sora 2 Affected YouTube Stars?

Sora 2’s realism has already caused chaos. Fake videos of Jake Paul “coming out” went viral, racking up 5 million views before takedown. Us Weekly also exposed scams using AI Whoopi Goldberg and Tom Hanks clips to promote crypto schemes.

OpenAI’s limited guardrails—blocking certain celebrity likenesses but allowing “lookalike” models—have drawn scrutiny. IP attorney Steven Rivkin told Fortune, “It’s OpenAI’s legal responsibility to prevent likeness misuse.” TikTok comments like “Bro, how is this AI? I’m cooked” (1M likes) highlight how indistinguishable AI footage has become.

What Does the Future Hold for YouTube Creators in the Age of AI?

MrBeast told BBC on October 7, 2025: “People who use it to create really good content will win short-term.” He cited his #TeamWater collaboration with Mark Rober that raised $40M for clean water—showing how AI can aid good causes when used ethically.

Still, The AI Insider warns smaller creators could lose income as AI content floods algorithms. TechCrunch calls the situation “an existential threat” to authenticity. While the EU’s AI Act enforces labeling requirements, U.S. regulations remain patchy, leaving YouTube largely to self-police.

How Is YouTube Responding to the AI Wave?

YouTube’s October 2025 updates introduced Veo (photo animation filters), auto-clip generators, and an AI chatbot in YouTube Studio for creators. While aimed at boosting efficiency, eWeek reports that “AI slop” is already dominating trending pages.

In one high-profile case, Deloitte repaid $440,000 after an AI-generated marketing video misled investors, showing how regulatory scrutiny may spread to creators. As content becomes indistinguishable, the next phase may bring “verified human” badges to preserve trust.

Verdict: Can YouTubers Survive the AI Onslaught?

MrBeast’s warning isn’t doomsday prophecy—it’s a reality check. As Sora 2 and YouTube’s AI tools reshape the digital landscape, creators must adapt fast or risk irrelevance. Authenticity, storytelling, and emotional connection—qualities AI still can’t fake—may become creators’ most valuable assets.

The Beast might be worried, but he’s still building. The rest of the internet? Time to evolve—or get cooked.

Hat Tips

Article compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs on October 16, 2025 for Clownfish TV D/REZZED.