Gwyneth Paltrow has responded to criticism regarding a reported private dinner party honoring OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by sharing satirical, AI-generated party invitations on Instagram. The fictional invitations featured pop culture characters as guests of honor, including Shrek, Samantha Jones from "Sex and the City," M3GAN, Jessica Rabbit, and comedian Courtney O'Donnell's alter ego Chanty Beluga.
Paltrow's humorous response comes amid backlash over reports that she was planning to host an "off-the-record" dinner at her Hamptons home for Altman. According to a report by Puck News, invitations for the event, slated for August 29, had begun to circulate.
The backlash highlights broader public skepticism toward artificial intelligence and tech giants. A recent CNBC/Generation Labs survey indicated that 45% of adults under 35 view AI as a threat to their future careers, with a majority expressing distrust in leaders of major AI-investing companies.
Some social media users criticized Paltrow's reported event, with comments expressing concern about supporting AI leaders and questioning her perceived detachment from public sentiment. One user wrote, "Stop supporting AI giants. Hope this helps, Gwyneth," while another stated, "The PR strategy is now apparently 'name every fictional character except Sam Altman.'"
However, others supported Paltrow's approach, with one user commenting, "No one trolls like Gwyneth," and another calling her "ICONIC."
Paltrow has previously demonstrated an engagement with AI technology. Her company, Goop, announced an AI partnership with performance marketing platform Adora earlier this year. Paltrow has also discussed using AI in her podcast, stating she finds it "incredibly useful" and has explored AI for recipe generation. In 2024, she launched an AI-powered meditation app and in May, Goop announced a "pivot to AI" alongside staff reductions, a move that followed earlier layoffs.
This controversy follows a previous instance in June where Paltrow faced divided opinions after starring in a campaign for a luxury residential development in Israel. Critics accused her of supporting the Gaza conflict, while supporters defended her public stance on her Jewish heritage and support for Israel amidst rising antisemitism.