Reese Witherspoon went viral last week — nearly five million views on Instagram and countless more when her comments were shared across platforms — for suggesting that her followers embrace artificial intelligence and learn how to use it. “It’s time. It’s time people,” she said in her IG Reel.
While some of her famous friends loved the organic-sounding promotion (“This,” Kerry Washington commented), not everyone was enthusiastic. The backlash was widespread and widespread with many on social media criticizing Witherspoon for a variety of reasons ranging from the impact AI data centers have on the environment to how AI companies steal artists’ intellectual property to feed and train models, and more. Others viewed it as suspicious, questioning the timing and whether or not it had a partnership with AI companies.
Well, the Oscar winner saw the backlash and responded. “Well, I think my AI post got people talking,” Witherspoon posted on Instagram Stories on Monday. She directly addressed whether or not she was getting paid to promote AI, a claim that came to light after her comments went viral and gained more attention after Sandra Bullock said at CNBC’s Changemakers event that it was time to turn to AI. “We have to use it in a really constructive and innovative way, and make it our friend,” Bullock said. The successive promotion of AI has inspired theories that Oscar winners were getting paid to promote AI. Not so fast, Witherspoon said.
“To be clear, no one is paying me to talk about this,” her post read. “I’m just a curious person. My kids are learning AI tools, I know a lot of founders who work in code, and I hear about people using AI in every business sector.”
Witherspoon also directly addressed some of the negative impacts of AI on employment and the environment. “But I want to acknowledge people’s concerns, they are valid. I am aware of the impact this could have on jobs in many industries. I understand the environmental concerns. I care deeply about local communities. I have concerns about the impending disaster. [artificial general intelligence]”.
She continued, “I don’t think computers should replace humanity. I plan to learn as much as I can to learn about this technological revolution. If you want to learn with me, great, let’s do this! If you don’t want to, that’s okay too.”
For those who want to follow Witherspoon on her educational and experimental AI journey, she has tagged a group of female creators whose voices are helping to make sense of AI today. These include Shae O. Omonijo, Harper Carroll, Allie K. Miller, Cat Goetze, Sinéad Bovell, and Dr. Nici Sweeney. See her posts below.
