Actress Miriam Shor, star of the upcoming series Pluribus, sparked immediate backlash — and applause — during an appearance on Fox's GDLA+ on Tuesday, when she launched into an unscripted critique of the artificial intelligence industry.
Shor, known for her roles in Transparent and Younger, didn't ease into the topic. She directly challenged the environmental cost of AI tools, asking the host and audience to consider how much water is consumed every time someone uses ChatGPT.
“Let’s ask how much water it uses every time you use ChatGPT,” Shor said, according to a clip circulating online. The moment was captured on video and quickly spread across social media, with fans and critics weighing in.
Water usage by data centers powering AI models has become a growing concern among environmental researchers, though tech companies rarely disclose site-level figures. Shor's comments on a mainstream network show brought the issue to a broader audience.
Fox had not publicly responded to Shor's remarks as of Wednesday morning. Shor's representatives have not issued a statement.
The actress is currently promoting Pluribus, a new drama set to premiere later this year. Neither Fox nor the show's producers have commented on whether her on-air comments were planned or would affect her promotional schedule.
Reactions online were sharply divided. Supporters praised Shor for using her platform to raise questions about AI's environmental footprint, while critics accused her of fearmongering without providing specific data.
The incident raises a larger question for Hollywood's growing embrace of AI: can actors critique the very technology their studios are increasingly investing in? Shor's appearance suggests tensions are rising behind the scenes.