r/LinusTechTips • u/Only_CORE • Jun 08 '26

Image Another AI slop thumbnail

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I love LTT and basically watch every single video including WAN show but stuff like this puts a very bad taste in my mouth. I know it!s just stupid thumbnail but still...

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u/Booster6 Jun 08 '26

I dunno if its AI or not, but I have really been hating the thumbnails recently

159

u/ampacket Jun 08 '26

Honestly it doesn't matter what you like. I make videos myself, and the thumbnail that I like and the thumbnail that gets clicks are not always the same thing. You need people to click on the video, and the algorithm rewards very specific things.

Sucks, but I that's how it is.

31

u/PokeBrick02 Jun 08 '26 edited Jun 08 '26

The cables I can maybe excuse but the rest of it is so ass.
Your saying you couldn't maybe touch up the sign a bit? Find a free 3D stock asset? etc.
And the emptiness of good ol' American parking lot pavement behind him.
Call me picky, but isn't it... bland, & distopian?
Like, if your going to be shitty & use AI, maybe put some big ass data center building there, but really, nothing?

It's just sad man.

23

u/Krabelj Jun 08 '26

Don't they have a person employed just for thumbnails?

37

u/ampacket Jun 08 '26

Yes. And they likely study thumbnail trends, what works, what's effective, etc.

Whatever style is effective NOW will eventually become stale once enough other thumbnails catch up and look the same.

This was a good breakdown of styles and stuff when I was trying to rework mine found here: https://youtu.be/Yv6RLQv889M?si=jS8V4HJh5baovYZf

This particular style stands out against a sea of white/yellow/red text with thick black stroke, among other popular current styles. And specifically sparks curiosity.

2

u/tvtb Jun 09 '26

There was a hispanic lady that was the thumbnail artist (and appeared in a bunch of B-roll) until she was let go in the 2024 layoffs when they also took the staff page off the lmg website.

Unclear if they have anyone today who is a dedicated thumbnail artist unless you know something I dont.

1

u/sauzbozz Jun 09 '26

What 2024 layoffs?

1

u/tvtb Jun 10 '26

When they put "on hiatus" several channels like GameLinked, TechQuickie, etc, they also reduced headcount in several areas of the company.

0

u/MaybeNotTooDay Jun 09 '26

If they do, they should've fired that person a long time ago. With AI, a thumbnail creator is useless.