Reese Witherspoon's comments about embracing artificial intelligence went viral last week, with nearly five million views on Instagram and countless more when her comments were shared across platforms. While some of her friends were initially enthusiastic about the promotion, others were critical of the timing and potential partnerships with AI companies. The backlash also included concerns about the impact AI data centers on the environment and artists' intellectual property, and whether AI companies have stolen artists’ intellectual property to train and train models. Despite these criticisms, Witheraspoon responded by stating that "no one is paying me to promote AI". She also acknowledged the potential negative impacts AI is having on employment and the environment.