The introduction of an AI-generated actress has stirred significant controversy among Hollywood professionals.
At the recent Zurich Film Festival, Eline Van der Velden-an accomplished actor, comedian, and producer-presented Tilly Norwood, an AI-driven performer, sparking immediate division within the entertainment community.
Tilly represents the inaugural AI talent from Van der Velden’s newly established AI studio, Xicoia, which operates as an offshoot of Particle6.
Within mere hours of the reveal, Tilly Norwood captured widespread media attention as the “world’s first AI actress,” igniting debates and drawing both intrigue from talent agencies and sharp criticism from many actors concerned about the implications for their livelihoods.
Van der Velden emphasized that the intention behind Tilly is not to supplant human actors but to serve as an innovative creative instrument for film and television production.
“To those upset by the creation of Tilly Norwood: she is not meant to replace human performers but is a form of artistic expression,” Van der Velden explained.
“Tilly is a crafted entity, a work of art,” she added. “Artificial intelligence should be viewed as a novel tool-akin to animation, puppetry, or CGI-rather than a substitute for human talent.”
Despite these reassurances, many in Hollywood remain uneasy, voicing fears online that AI could eventually displace actors and diminish human presence on screen.
Concerns have also been raised about the ethical use of real individuals’ work to train AI systems without their permission or fair compensation, potentially leading to AI-generated films, series, or commercials created without any human involvement.
Actress Mara Wilson, known for her roles in “Matilda” and “Mrs. Doubtfire,” responded critically to Van der Velden, stating, “This isn’t your creation. Countless real professionals-photographers, camera operators, even farmers-contributed to this. You’ve taken their labor and claimed it as your own.”
When asked about Tilly Norwood in an interview, Emily Blunt expressed her unease: “Does it disappoint me? I’m not sure how to answer, except to say it’s genuinely frightening.”
Upon seeing an image of Tilly, Blunt exclaimed, “Wait, that’s AI? Seriously? We’re in trouble. This is deeply unsettling. Agencies, please reconsider. Don’t erode our human connection.”
Industry insiders reveal that some talent agencies are contemplating signing Tilly as a client, while studios remain cautious about fully embracing AI-generated content. Meanwhile, Tilly’s Instagram, styled like a typical Gen Z influencer’s profile, has provoked strong backlash from prominent Hollywood figures.
In response to mounting concerns, creators and studios are actively discussing guidelines for AI’s role in visual media and the ethical training of AI models. Concurrently, OpenAI has introduced new safeguards to protect individuals’ likenesses in video content, including collaborations with rights holders, plans to block AI-generated videos mimicking living artists, and options for public figures to opt out of having their images used by AI technologies.
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