Hank Green apologizes for heavy AI use and vows slower output

Hank Green, the creator behind the educational channel Complexly, faced criticism after a phrase in a recent video suggested AI involvement, prompting viewers to suspect a chatbot had written his script. In a deleted X post, he confirmed using ChatGPT for research under intense pressure and clarified that the contested line was a response to a guest, not AI output. He later issued a detailed apology on Reddit, describing himself as “mortified” and pledging to scale back his video output.

Green emphasized that he only employs AI to locate academic papers and that the spoken words and delivery remain his own, though he accepted criticism that the tool may dilute his voice. He voiced worries about AI’s climate footprint and the rapid consolidation of power by tech firms, and said the dopamine surge from interacting with large language models is unhealthy. Going forward, he plans to produce fewer, more meditative or unscripted videos and to ensure his words truly reflect his own thoughts.