As Stranger Things heads toward its highly anticipated final season, the internet has found a new reason to argue, and this time it has nothing to do with Vecna or the Upside Down. Fans are now accusing the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, of using ChatGPT while writing Stranger Things 5, after what they claim is a revealing moment in a recently released behind-the-scenes documentary.
The controversy began when eagle-eyed viewers noticed several browser tabs open on the writers’ laptops during footage that captured the team working on the season’s ending. Among those tabs, fans say, were three separate ChatGPT windows, along with a Reddit tab. Screenshots from the documentary quickly made their way onto social media, where speculation exploded almost instantly. Memes followed just as fast, with phrases like “Stranger Things 5 brought to you by ChatGPT” trending across X, Reddit, and TikTok.
For many fans, the idea that AI could have played a role in shaping the conclusion of one of Netflix’s biggest shows feels unsettling. Stranger Things has always been praised for its emotional storytelling, character arcs, and nostalgic heart. The thought that an AI tool might have been involved, even as a reference or brainstorming aid, has raised concerns about originality, authorship, and creative integrity.
Others, however, are urging people to slow down. There has been no confirmation from Netflix or the Duffer Brothers that ChatGPT was used to write any part of the season. Some viewers argue that having AI tabs open does not automatically mean scripts were generated by it. Writers today often use multiple tools while working, including research tabs, fan theory threads, and even AI platforms for organizing ideas or testing story logic. The Reddit tab spotted alongside the AI windows has only added fuel to the debate, with fans joking that the ending might be influenced by fan theories rather than pure creative vision.
The timing of this controversy has made it even more sensitive. Hollywood is still navigating the aftermath of major strikes that centered around AI usage, particularly concerns from writers about being replaced or undermined by technology. In that context, even the perception of AI involvement in a major series finale feels loaded. For some fans, it represents everything they fear about the future of storytelling.
At the same time, a portion of the audience has responded with humor rather than outrage. Jokes about Eleven fighting “ChatGPT Vecna” and the Upside Down being powered by algorithms have gone viral, turning the accusation into a pop culture moment of its own. For them, the idea is less about betrayal and more about how deeply AI has already entered everyday creative spaces.
As of now, the accusations remain just that: fan speculation. No official statement has addressed the claims, and there is no concrete evidence that AI generated dialogue, plot points, or the ending of Stranger Things 5. Still, the conversation itself says a lot about where audiences are mentally. Viewers are paying closer attention than ever to how stories are made, not just what stories are told.
