A final shot from the behind-the-scenes Netflix documentary has viewers wondering if artificial intelligence played a role in crafting the Stranger Things ending.
The final episodes of Stranger Things landed on Netflix on December 31, 2025, bringing the nearly decade-long story to a close. Since the premiere, online discussion has moved from plot twists and character endings to a more technical debate: did the show’s creators use artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT to help write the finale? The question erupted after eagle-eyed fans spotted what looked like multiple ChatGPT browser tabs open on a laptop in a scene from the documentary One Last Adventure: The Making Of Stranger Things 5. This detail, combined with fan complaints about the finale’s structure and a separate controversy over the end-credit artwork, has led to widespread online speculation.
The Documentary Clip That Sparked the Debate
The Netflix documentary, released alongside the final episodes, was meant to give fans a heartfelt look at the show’s conclusion. Instead, a brief cutaway shot became its most talked-about moment. The footage shows a laptop screen during the writing process, and viewers quickly noted what appeared to be three separate tabs for the AI chatbot ChatGPT open in a web browser. The Duffer Brothers, creators of the series, have not publicly commented on this specific shot or confirmed whether AI was used as a tool in their writers’ room.
The reaction online was swift and critical. On social media platforms, fans expressed disappointment and frustration. One user questioned, “What do you mean the stranger things documentary shows them writing the script on a computer with 3 ChatGPT tabs open?”. Another person joked it was a “rare instance where it would be less embarrassing to tell people you have three ChatGPT girlfriends”. Many comments connected the alleged use of AI to their own criticisms of the finale’s story choices. One fan suggested the plot’s repetitive elements felt artificially generated, stating, “series ends withโฆa repeat of season 1 ending and kids playing [Dungeons & Dragons] like nothing and people unsure it’s AI”.
The Separate Controversy Over AI-Generated End Credits
Parallel to the scriptwriting debate, a different AI theory about the finale spread online. As the final episode concluded, it featured a unique end-credit sequence with monochrome sketches of memorable scenes from earlier seasons. Almost immediately, some fans on Reddit and other platforms claimed the artwork looked like it was created by an AI image generator.
Critics pointed to specific details in the drawings, like a character’s “fingers just morphing into an unreadable blob” or eyes pointing in different directions, which they argued are common flaws in AI-generated imagery. One user, claiming to be an artist familiar with AI tools, commented, “In my opinion, as an artist and as someone who has used AI image generation, this really stinks of AI”. This theory gained enough traction that podcast host Alex Azor publicly called for the producers to give an official statement and credit the artist to settle the matter.
However, this particular rumor has been heavily disputed. Other observers compared the controversial artwork to the original scenes from Season 1, showing that the so-called “flaws” in the drawings accurately reflected the actors’ poses and expressions in the actual filmed footage. Furthermore, industry reports indicate the sequence was created by the award-winning design company Imaginary Forces, making the use of generative AI for such a high-profile project unlikely.
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Official Clarifications on Finale and Future Theories
Amidst these AI debates, other fan theories about the show’s ending have circulated and been officially addressed. One major theory, dubbed “Conformity Gate,” suggested the finale that aired was fake and a secret ninth episode would be released later. This idea spread widely on TikTok and Reddit, with some videos garnering over 10 million views. The theory proposed that Vecna had manipulated the audience’s perception and that the true ending was still hidden.
Netflix and the show’s social media accounts responded to this directly. The official Stranger Things accounts updated their bios to read, “All episodes of Stranger Things are now playing”. This message was widely seen as a direct denial of the “secret episode” speculation. The Duffer Brothers had previously told the Hollywood Reporter that for the main characters, “this is the end of their story,” though spinoff projects are in development.
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