Bill Simmons faces backlash for using artificial intelligence to generate opinions from the deceased film critic Roger Ebert on his podcast "The Rewatchables." Film buffs argue the practice is disrespectful, while co-hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins publicly criticized the segment. Ads from Open AI, the maker of Chat GPT, have recently run on the show. During a podcast interview, Fennessey and Dobbins expressed moral concerns about channeling Ebert now that Open AI is a sponsor.

Simmons’s co-host Chris Ryan previously pushed back against the bit, jokingly asking if Simmons would "disgrace himself" by using the technology. The controversy highlights tensions between creative integrity and AI integration in media. Additionally, Simmons discussed Spotify’s licensing deals with Netflix, noting an inherent conflict for shows covering Netflix films.

The episode underscores wider backlash against artificial intelligence, encompassing data center concerns and creative ownership issues.