Last week, Reese Witherspoon made headlines (in a bad way) for declaring that “the AI revolution has begun” and suggesting that women should learn about AI technology. “Jobs held by women are three times more likely to be automated by AI, yet women use AI at an average rate of 25% less than men,” the “Morning Show” star wrote on Instagram. “We don’t want to be left behind.”
The post sparked considerable backlash, with people pointing out issues related to data centers and intellectual property, and accusing Witherspoon of being paid by AI companies to promote their generation tools.
“Well, I think my AI post is what got people talking,” Witherspoon wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday. “To be clear, no one is paying me to talk about this. I’m just a curious person. My kids are learning about AI tools, I know founders who are doing vibe coding, and I’m listening to people using AI in all areas of their business.”
“But I want to acknowledge people’s concerns, which are valid. I know this could impact jobs in so many industries. I understand the environmental concerns. I care deeply about our communities, and I’m concerned about the impending AGI. I don’t believe computers should replace humans. I’m going to learn as much as I can about this technological revolution. If you want to learn with me, great, let’s do it! If you don’t, that’s okay too. ”
Witherspoon has been talking about artificial intelligence for years, encouraging her followers to become familiar with the technology that is rapidly changing industries from Hollywood to the tech industry.
“It’s really important for women to be involved in AI, because AI is the future of filmmaking,” Witherspoon told Glamor magazine in September. “And you can be sad and mourn all you want, but change is here. There will never be a lack of creativity and ingenuity and actually putting things together by hand. It may be diminished, but it will always remain paramount in art and self-expression.”
She told the magazine that she uses search tools such as Perplexity and AI shopping agent Vetted AI, as well as AI Assistant.
Witherspoon isn’t the only A-list actress talking about the AI revolution. Last week, Sandra Bullock told the CNBC Changemakers Summit that AI is “here” and “we need to understand it.”
“We need to put ourselves out there,” Block said. “We have to use it in a really constructive and creative way, because there are people who use it for evil instead of making friends with it. I mean, we have to be very careful and aware of it because there are people who use it for evil and not good. But I feel like there’s a place for it… It’s here. We just have to be friends in a dark way.”
