Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo is taking a stand against ChatGPT, calling on his followers to abandon the popular AI platform over its leadership’s substantial financial support for Donald Trump’s political operation.
The actor recently amplified a campaign organized by QuitGPT, a grassroots movement urging users to switch to alternative chatbot services.
“ChatGPT’s president is Trump’s biggest donor. Their tech powers ICE. It’s time to boycott: QUIT GPT,” Ruffalo stated.
At the center of the controversy is Greg Brockman, president of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. According to campaign materials, Brockman and his wife donated $25 million to MAGA Inc during the last filing period, representing the largest single contribution to the pro-Trump super PAC.
The QuitGPT organization also highlights that ICE uses OpenAI technology for recruitment purposes. Ruffalo offered practical alternatives for concerned users.
“There are other other chat apps you can use that are actually just as good, or cheaper or more private that don’t fund evil in the world. Lumo from ProtonMail comes to mind but also DuckDuckGo. I am sure there are so many more,” he wrote in a social media post that garnered over 40,000 likes.
The boycott campaign argues that OpenAI remains vulnerable despite its market dominance. “They’re deep in debt with only one lifeline: users don’t know about other chatbots,” according to QuitGPT materials.
QuitGPT is encouraging creative professionals to mobilize their talents against the company. The campaign has called on artists to “perform skits, write songs, record TikToks, host parties” as ways to cut through what they describe as “AI slop” and raise awareness about alternative platforms.
The backlash comes among broader public uneasiness about relationships between Trump and major technology companies. A recent Morning Consult survey conducted with the Tech Oversight Project reveals significant voter concerns.
Among 1,800 registered voters polled in December, 49% believe Trump prioritizes large tech companies when developing artificial intelligence policy, while only 13% think families or workers benefit most from his AI decisions.
The survey found that 61% of respondents consider major technology firms to have excessive influence over Washington policymaking. Concerns about AI’s broader implications are widespread, with 69% believing the technology will reduce job opportunities and 45% expecting negative economic consequences.
Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, addressed what she characterized as uncomfortably close connections between the administration and technology giants, suggesting voters might hold Trump accountable if protections for ordinary Americans prove insufficient.
The poll also revealed strong support for state-level AI regulation, with 57% favoring allowing individual states to create their own rules addressing local concerns, compared to 24% who prefer uniform federal standards.
