Paramount+ is displaying an AI-generated thumbnail for the classic film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, featuring William Shatner's Captain Kirk in a suit and tie with a glowing red eye, instead of the original poster art. The image was first flagged by artist Ryan Estrada on Bluesky on May 28, 2026, and confirmed by Kotaku journalist Ethan Gach on a PlayStation 5. The thumbnail appears to be part of a custom thumbnail system that may have generated the image without human approval.
paramount+ is using an ai-generated thumbnail for wrath of khan that shows kirk in a suit with a glowing red eye. artist ryan estrada spotted it on bluesky, and kotaku confirmed it on ps5. looks like their custom thumbnail system went rogue.
This incident highlights the growing problem of AI-generated content slipping into official platforms without proper oversight. As streaming services compete for engagement, the use of generative AI for thumbnails risks damaging brand trust and producing bizarre, inaccurate imagery. It also reflects the pressure on legacy media companies like Paramount to adopt technology aggressively, sometimes at the expense of quality control.
another day, another streaming service letting ai run wild with thumbnails. this is what happens when you prioritize 'tech-forward' over 'does this look right?' paramount's new owners want to be a tech company, but this is just embarrassing. also, kirk in a suit? really?
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