Reese Witherspoon Urges Women to Lead the Future of AI in Media

Reese Witherspoon is urging women to become more actively involved in artificial intelligence as it increasingly integrates into the media landscape. Speaking during an interview with her co-stars on The Morning Show for Glamour, she emphasized the importance of adapting to the changes AI will bring to filmmaking and media production.

The actress and producer, known widely for her Hello Sunshine production company, shared how she manages her multiple roles in entertainment. She highlighted her focus on embracing “new structures and new environments” to stay current in an evolving industry.

Witherspoon explained,

“how media is evolving and how I can help be part of bringing women along in those emerging industries.”

The Complex Role of AI in Entertainment and Industry Concerns

AI’s rising influence in Hollywood has sparked wide-ranging debates, particularly around the preservation of actors’ likenesses and creative control. This contentious issue was central during the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023, where members voiced concerns about AI-generated replicas affecting their rights. A year later, SAG-AFTRA members working in video games also protested AI usage in the industry.

Despite these fears, Witherspoon encourages a more optimistic viewpoint. She communicated to Glamour,

“It’s so, so important that women are involved in AI…because it will be the future of filmmaking,”

further stating,

“And you can be sad and lament it all you want, but the change is here. It will never be a lack of creativity and ingenuity and actual physical manual building of things. It might diminish, but it’s always going to be the highest importance in art and in expression of self.”

The Legally Blonde star revealed that she incorporates AI tools daily and considers them

“an incredible tool to save time.”

Diverse Celebrity Opinions on AI’s Impact in Hollywood

Reese Witherspoon is not alone in discussing AI’s role in entertainment, though opinions vary significantly among stars. At CNBC’s 2024 Delivering Alpha investor summit, Ben Affleck expressed cautious confidence about AI’s limitations. He stated,

“movies will be one of the last things, if everything gets replaced, to be replaced by AI.”

Affleck addressed questions about AI generating entire films, responding,

“That’s not possible now. Will it be possible in the future? Highly unlikely.”

He elaborated on the creative complexities AI cannot yet replicate, noting,

“AI can write you excellent imitative verse that sounds Elizabethan. It cannot write you Shakespeare.”

Affleck added,

“The function of having two actors, or three or four actors, in a room and the taste to discern and construct that is something that currently entirely alludes AI’s capability and I think will for a meaningful period of time.”

As a co-owner of the production company Artists Equity along with Matt Damon, Affleck foresees AI impacting the more tedious and costly elements of filmmaking. This, he explained, could reduce production expenses, lowering barriers and

“allow[ing] more voices to be heard.”

Scarlett Johansson Warns of AI’s Potential for Harm and Legal Gaps

On the opposite end of the spectrum, actress Scarlett Johansson has raised alarm over the unchecked use of AI, urging government regulation to curb its misuse. Earlier this year, an AI-generated video circulated online featuring Hollywood stars’ likenesses in controversial content condemning Ye (formerly Kanye West) for antisemitic behavior. This clip used manipulated imagery of Johansson, among others, creating widespread concern.

Johansson stated,

“I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind. But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality,”

adding,

“I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI, but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us.”

Describing AI’s rise as a 1,000-foot wave, Johansson praised the response from

“several progressive countries, not including the United States,”

which have taken steps to address AI’s dangers responsibly. She criticized the U.S. government’s inaction on legislation, saying,

“It is terrifying that the U.S. government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI.”

She pleaded,

“I urge the U.S government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large.”

The Growing Threat of AI Scams in the Entertainment World

As AI technologies become more sophisticated and widely available, they have also been exploited by scammers targeting celebrities and fans. One recent incident involved fraudsters using AI-generated videos of General Hospital star Steve Burton to deceive a woman in Los Angeles out of more than $80,000. Such cases are heightening concerns over the ethical and security challenges AI poses, especially by manipulating familiar likenesses and identities without consent.

Preparing for AI’s Expanding Role in Creativity and Industry

Reese Witherspoon’s call for women to lead AI’s expansion in media highlights a critical moment for inclusion and leadership in emerging technologies. Alongside voices like Ben Affleck’s cautious optimism and Scarlett Johansson’s warnings, the debate reveals both the potential and perils AI brings to storytelling, creativity, and control over artistic work. As AI reshapes media production methods, it also demands urgent conversations about regulation, creativity preservation, and protecting individuals against misuse.

The entertainment industry stands at a crossroads, where embracing AI could democratize creative opportunities and streamline processes, but it also risks overlooking ethical pitfalls and equity. If Witherspoon’s vision gains traction, women could play a pivotal role in shaping AI’s influence on media, steering its future with awareness and innovation.