Widespread backlash caught Reese Witherspoon off guard after she encouraged women to learn about artificial intelligence and its applications.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The actor and former Stanford University student shared a now-viral video on Instagram last week. In the clip, she declares that \u201cthe AI revolution has begun\u201d and urges her female followers to keep up with the times.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe jobs women hold are 3x more likely to be automated by AI, yet women are using AI at a rate 25% lower than men on average,\u201d the \u201cBig Little Lies\u201d star said in the video shared to her feed Thursday, April 16. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to be left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Witherspoon quickly received criticism from fans, acclaimed authors and other artists, with many pointing to ecological and moral concerns. Some even accused the actor of being paid to endorse the technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is obviously a scripted ad and it\u2019s genuinely infuriating. Notice how AI\u2019s biggest defenders are the ones cashing checks from it,\u201d wrote screenwriter and director Charlene Bagcal on Threads. \u201cAI isn\u2019t inevitable. Technology follows society. If people stop using it, it dies. We still have agency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Witherspoon returned to the platform days later to justify her stance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I guess my AI post got people talking,\u201d she posted to her Instagram story<\/a> Monday, April 20. \u201cTo be clear, no one is paying me to talk about this. I\u2019m just a curious human. My kids are learning about AI tools, I know a lot of founders who are vibe coding, and I hear about people using AI in EVERY sector of business.\u201d<\/p>\n Witherspoon acknowledged that her fans\u2019 concerns are \u201cvalid\u201d and noted she recognizes the environmental and job market implications that many have brought up.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe computers should replace humanity,\u201d she wrote. \u201cI\u2019m planning on learning as much as possible so that I\u2019m educated about this technological revolution.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n AI has been a popular topic of discussion in Hollywood with the rise of digital performers such as Tilly Norwood<\/a>, who many industry professionals have criticized for taking human jobs.\u00a0<\/p>\n Witherspoon has been open about her use of the technology for months, telling Glamour magazine<\/a> in September that she uses AI assistants and tools such as Perplexity and Vetted AI.\u00a0<\/p>\n Last week, Sandra Bullock, who has been on a press tour for the highly anticipated \u201cPractical Magic 2,\u201d advocated for AI at the recent CNBC Changemakers Summit, urging the crowd to \u201cuse it in a really constructive and creative way.\u201d<\/p>\n