Fans slammed Cliff Tan for promoting AI. He says ignoring the tech would be 'irresponsible.'
YouTube creator Cliff Tan apologized to angry fans after he promoted AI on his channel. Tan, however, says designers should learn the technology.
Cliff Tan, a designer and YouTuber, attracted criticism after promoting the use of AI during the 29th Annual Webby Awards in New York City on May 12, 2025. Despite not using AI himself, Tan later apologized for the promotion. He told Business Insider that young architects need to learn AI to secure jobs, as the industry is already incorporating it.
Tan, who runs a popular interior design YouTube channel with 2.4 million subscribers and a TikTok account with 3.6 million followers, acknowledged that ignoring AI would be irresponsible. He explained that while the platform Dreamina, a Chinese AI company owned by ByteDance, was used in the ad, he incorporated his own doubts about AI to better resonate with his audience.
However, his apology didn't prevent the backlash, with some fans expressing disappointment. Tan admitted he expected some negative comments but was taken aback by the overwhelming response. Despite the criticism, Tan maintains that he doesn't foresee AI playing a role in his video creation process but is open to future endorsements if AI proves valuable for education and growth in the industry.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
