Actress Demi Moore is certainly one of several notable figures to attend the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Nonetheless, while attending, the “I Love Boosters” star sparked controversy by making what has been called a vailed advertisment for artificial intelligence.
This comes after Reese Witherspoon‘s recent controversy, by which she was accused of encouraging others to find out about AI while potentially making the most of it.
Moore took part within the Cannes Film Festival jury press conference on May 12. During it, per Variety, she was asked about her opinions on artificial intelligence and the way the movie industry is and could possibly be impacted by it. She began, “Wow, that’s an enormous query.”
Moore continued, “I feel the fact is that to withstand — I all the time feel that against-ness breeds against-ness. AI is here. And so to fight it’s to fight something that may be a battle that we’ll lose.”
She added, “So to seek out ways by which we are able to work with it, I feel, is a more precious path to take.” The actress then said, “To your query of, are we doing enough to guard ourselves? I don’t know the reply to that. And so my inclination can be to say probably not.”
Moore Says There’s A Beauty To AI
Moore continued her discussion of AI and its impact on Hollywood. Specifically, she noted that “there’s beautiful elements to with the ability to utilize” it as a tool. Nonetheless, she acknowledged that the technology has its limits.
In accordance with her, “The reality is there really isn’t anything to fear because what it may well never replace is what true art comes from, which shouldn’t be the physical, it comes from the soul. It comes from the spirit of each certainly one of us sitting here, to each certainly one of us who creates on daily basis.”
She added, “And that they will never recreate through something that’s technical.”
Fans Aren’t Taking Kindly To The ‘Substance’ Star’s AI Sentiments
Following Moore’s remarks about finding ways to work with AI that went viral, she’s receiving considerable backlash on social media. One person reacted, “What a dumb argument. Simply because Demi Moore is here, it doesn’t mean directors must solid her.”
Another person said, “She feels like an investor, not an artist. Entirely out of touch with technology and art. 90s movie stars had it easy and have become wealthy and retreated from caring in regards to the sustainability of the business they helped fuck up.”
A unique social media user stated, “Every celebrity that comes out and says this shit might be investing in it.”
After that, one other fan offered a prediction. They said, “Aging actors who know their roles are drying up are going to embrace this concept (after the pitch meeting) of selling their digital likeness to AI in order that they can proceed to make cash into retirement. They don’t have any other selection but to screw the remaining of the industry.”
Lastly, one other concerned social media user wrote, “Gross – ‘againstness breeds againstness’? No, for those who stop using AI, block data centers from being built, and make anti-AI regulations, then the slop does actually go away! I only hear older people afraid of being “left behind” and AI shills using this sort of language, by the best way.”
Demi Moore Also Advocated For Free Speech
There’s been discussion in Hollywood about whether filmmakers should shrink back from expressing political opinions. This comes as some ponder whether outspoken actors and filmmakers distract from the films themselves.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Moore was asked about this while on the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. In response, she said, “I feel a part of art is about expression, so if we start censoring ourselves, then we shut down the very core of our creativity, which is, I feel, where we are able to discover truth and answers.”
Demi Moore’s Next Movie Arrives In Theaters This Month
Moore’s comments at Cannes 2026 come ahead of the discharge of her latest film, “I Love Boosters.” Written and directed by Boots Riley, the comedy-adventure film will likely be released in theaters on May 22. Along with Moore, it stars Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Page, Poppy Liu, and more.
Ahead of its release, “I Love Boosters” garnered impressive early reviews. It currently sits at a stellar 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 35 reviews. Within the movie, Moore portrays a fashion maven who becomes the goal of a gaggle of shoplifters, also often known as “boosters.”
The film is rated R and is distributed by Neon.