Jennifer Aniston Speaks Out on AI’s Impact on Friendships at ELLE Event

Jennifer Aniston has weighed into the Hollywood row on AI as she addressed its prevalence during her speech at ELLE’s 2025 Women in Hollywood Celebration.

The actress, 56, took to the stage during the annual Hollywood event on Monday where she addressed artificial intelligence in film and television.

Jennifer said no matter how smart the tech gets, it would not be able to recreate the talent of actors or their relationships on and off screen.   

She said: ‘That’s what keeps me showing up, every day. It’s the friendships and the shared belief that storytelling still matters, that burying our souls as actors and creators still matters.’

‘It’s something that AI will never be able to duplicate, no matter how smart it gets.’ 

Jennifer stunned in a chic vintage Ralph Lauren gown that showed off her sculpted arms as she arrived at the soirée, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. 

Jennifer Aniston has weighed into the Hollywood row on AI as she addressed its prevalence during her speech at ELLE’s 2025 Women in Hollywood Celebration

Jennifer said no matter how smart the tech gets, it would not be able to recreate the talent of actors or their relationships on and off screen

The outfit appeared to be a nod to her iconic Friends role as Rachel Green, who served as a Ralph Lauren buyer on the show.

The sparkling floor-length black dress featured a halter neckline. 

She was supported by her boyfriend Jim Curtis for the event as they took their relationship to the next level by posing for snaps together. 

Jennifer was one of this year’s honourees, alongside Emily Blunt, Jessie Buckley, Teyana Taylor, Rose Byrne, Renate Reinsve, Chase Infiniti, Jayme Lawson, Wunmi Mosaku, and Hailee Steinfeld.

Her comments on AI follow Nicholas Cage speaking out against its use when it comes to the art of telling stories on the big screen. 

Speaking in February this year, he said: ‘There is another world that is also disturbing me. It’s happening right now around all of us: the new AI world.

‘I am a big believer in not letting robots dream for us.’

Just last week Morgan Freeman publicly hit out at AI replicating his legendary acting voice and branded it ‘robbery’ as he said his lawyers have been ‘very, very busy’. 

Jennifer was supported by her boyfriend Jim Curtis for the event as they took their relationship to the next level by posing for snaps together

Jennifer stunned in a chic vintage Ralph Lauren gown that showed off her sculpted arms for the soirée, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills

A growing reliance on cost-effective AI technology to accurately replicate famous acting voices – among them Freeman, 88, and the late James Earl Jones – has infuriated the veteran star, who believes it has cost him valuable work.

‘I’m a little PO’d, you know,’ he told The Guardian. ‘I’m like any other actor: don’t mimic me with falseness.

‘I don’t appreciate it and I get paid for doing stuff like that, so if you’re gonna do it without me, you’re robbing me.’

He said he’s discovered a number of projects where his voice was replicated without prior consent, adding: ‘Well, I tell you, my lawyers have been very, very busy.’ 

In September, comedian Eline Van der Velden launched AI star Tilly Norwood which immediately sparked backlash.

Many expressed concerns over the invention and argued the CGI ‘slop’ is a slap in the face to real-life actors.

Eline was forced to release a lengthy statement on the back of the character’s creation and insisted computer-generated characters would not replace humans in film and TV.