MrBeast, known for his influence on YouTube, recently conveyed to Mark Zuckerberg that the reach of Meta’s content is hindered due to the absence of multilingual dubbing capabilities. This stands in contrast to YouTube, where creators have the option to upload multiple audio tracks in different languages. Zuckerberg acknowledged this shortcoming and proposed that artificial intelligence could offer a solution. MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, pointed out that AI-generated dubs using his voice have already enhanced viewer engagement on other platforms.
In a recent interview with podcast hosts Colin Rosenblum and Samir Chaudry, Zuckerberg discussed the potential improvements for Meta’s platforms, particularly concerning video content. During the conversation, MrBeast promptly highlighted Meta’s limitations compared to YouTube, where different audio tracks can be utilized to cater to non-English speaking audiences. He noted that 70% of his YouTube audience does not speak English, and the platform allows videos to automatically play in the appropriate language, such as Spanish for viewers in Mexico.
MrBeast mentioned that he receives millions of views from Spanish and Portuguese-speaking viewers. In contrast, when he posts similar videos on Meta’s platforms, the inability to import these dubs results in significantly lower viewership, as audiences in countries like Mexico and Brazil cannot access dubbed content.
Although specific YouTube viewership data is not publicly accessible, research indicates that countries such as India, the USA, Brazil, Indonesia, and Mexico have the highest YouTube viewership. This represents a substantial missed opportunity for non-English-speaking audiences when content availability is limited. Donaldson expressed awareness that Meta is addressing the dubbing issue, but he emphasized that if he held an executive role, this matter would become a top priority. He believes enhancing dubbing capabilities is vital for boosting creators’ views and engagement on the platform.
Zuckerberg, standing as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals with a net worth of $213 billion, agreed and noted that AI could provide a solution to the challenges faced by Donaldson. MrBeast has been utilizing AI to dub his own voice into other languages for his various business ventures, including the Feastables chocolate brand, MrBeast Burgers restaurant chain, and the Lunchly snack brand. He observed that the retention rates for AI-dubbed videos, which can use his voice, are slightly higher because audiences prefer the familiar voice, even if it’s less natural than a human’s.
Looking forward, MrBeast expressed optimism that technological advancements could soon allow him to simply post a video on platforms like Facebook, enabling AI to automatically translate it into up to 20 languages. This potential development is reflective of his previous engagements with billionaire tech leaders, including his rejection of Elon Musk’s proposal to post videos directly on the social media platform X. MrBeast explained that the ad revenue generated from X wasn’t sufficient to cover the production costs associated with his videos.
By January 2024, MrBeast revealed the earnings from posting a video on X, totaling $263,655. However, he cautioned that this figure might not be representative of typical earnings since advertisers specifically targeted his video. This article was originally published on Fortune.com.
