Deadline reports Amazon’s greenlit AI series Punky Duck has been scrapped after the creator received criticism regarding the use of AI. The showrunner, Jorge R Gutierrez (El Guapo vs The Narco Vampires, Maya and the Three), announced this decision on X.
For those who don’t know, Punky Duck was series that followed a lovable punk duck and his best friend, Smiley Cat and the two spend their time in Los Angeles, stumbling into alien invasions, giant monsters, robot conspiracies, family drama, and other forms of supernatural mayhem all while trying to do the right thing. According to Deadline, Gutierrez issued this statement on X regarding the scrapping of the series: “I will not be making a Punky Duck series. Actions speak louder than words. My intent was to showcase artists, both new and seasoned, both inside and outside the studios, driving this new tech. My sincerest apology to those I upset. I promise to do better moving forward. Thank you for your patience with me. I will try harder.”
Amazon announced the creation of a fund called GenAI Creator’s fund, which was backed by its AWS division. During a conference in Culver City, the initial plan was to have Punky Duck stream on Prime Video. The series would be a project made to embrace AI, while combined with human creativity and would help with LA’s troubled production sector. The conference had nearly 2,500 in attendance which demonstrated a strong creative appetite to explore constructive uses of AI.
Deadline mentions that the voice actor Billy West (Futurama, Big City Greens) gave this response to Gutierrez’s tweet on X.
“You’re a good man,” West wrote. “It is very seductive that something now exists that contains the collective works of millions of artists and wordsmiths all thrown in a blender allowing one to pour out on demand things based on suggestions and prompts. You become a soul stealer, a grave robber of sorts. You are an artist! God gave you a far greater gift and purpose to share with others. We need your true self!’”
I have decided to drop out of the AI program at Amazon. I will not be making a Punky Duck series. Actions speak louder than words.
My intent was to showcase artists, both new and seasoned, both inside and outside the studios, driving this new tech.
My sincerest apology to… https://t.co/GJQZMkfZwd
— Jorge R. Gutierrez (@mexopolis) May 29, 2026