Tilly Norwood, an artificial intelligence actor developed by Dutch creators, is currently generating significant buzz following reports that the synthetic performer is engaged in discussions with talent agencies.
Norwood’s social media presence cultivates the image of a budding actress, featuring a brunette persona in posed photographs. The platform also showcases a completely AI-generated comedy sketch, presenting its subject with “girl next door vibes.”
Tilly’s creators recently expressed profound excitement for forthcoming developments on her dedicated page, asserting that the artificial intelligence was experiencing “very real emotions” as it anticipated future events.
Hollywood’s influential actors’ union has vehemently condemned a new “creation,” a stance echoed by a host of A-list stars including Emily Blunt, Natasha Lyonne, and Whoopi Goldberg. The industry, it appears, is far from embracing the development.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has issued a statement clarifying that “Norwood” is not a human actor. The organization asserted that Norwood is, instead, a computer-generated character, developed through training on the performances of countless professional artists.
The union argues that audiences show little interest in computer-generated content that lacks life experience and emotion, noting a general disengagement when such productions are entirely disconnected from the human experience.
Dutch actor and comedian Eline Van der Velden is credited with creating the AI actor. Van der Velden reportedly aims for the AI creation, known as Norwood, to rise to prominence as “the next Scarlett Johansson.” The BBC has sought comment from Van der Velden and her company, Particle6.
Norwood’s Instagram profile features headshots from simulated screen tests and a comedic advertisement that parodies BBC programming, most notably an image depicting Norwood superimposed onto the iconic celebrity sofa of BBC’s The Graham Norton Show.
Addressing widespread anger and backlash within Hollywood, the Dutch creator took to Tilly’s Instagram page to assert that their creation should be viewed as “a creative work – a piece of art,” rather than a replacement for a human being.
Van der Velden characterized the development of Tilly as an imaginative and skilled endeavor, drawing parallels to the creation of a character, the writing of a role, or the direction of a performance. He further asserted that these creations should be assessed within their unique genre, rather than being compared directly to human actors.
Artificial intelligence has become a deeply contested issue within Hollywood, serving as a critical flashpoint during the labor strikes that brought the industry to a halt two years ago. During that period of significant disruption, both writers and actors vocally demanded robust protections against the technology’s influence.
In a recent statement concerning Norwood, SAG-AFTRA cautioned agencies and studios that his involvement in projects could jeopardize the hard-won contractual protections secured by the union after the 2023 strike.
The union contended that the initiative, far from addressing any existing problems, actively generates a new one by exploiting unauthorized performances, thereby jeopardizing actors’ employment and devaluing human artistry.
Emmy-nominated actress and filmmaker Natasha Lyonne, celebrated for her prominent roles in series such as *Poker Face*, *Orange Is the New Black*, and *Russian Doll*, has publicly called for a boycott of individuals who collaborate with Norwood.
Lyonne has called for all guilds to boycott any talent agency found engaging in certain contentious practices. Her strong position comes as she currently works on a feature film that integrates “ethical AI” specifically to star real actors.
The assessment describes something as profoundly erroneous in its basis and indicative of a deeply unsettled state.
Actress Emily Blunt characterized a particular creation as terrifying during a recent podcast discussion with Variety.
An Oscar-nominated actress voiced profound alarm and fear after being shown a video featuring the AI known as Norwood. She reportedly declared, “Good Lord, we’re screwed,” characterizing the technology as “really, really scary.” The actress subsequently issued a fervent appeal to various agencies, imploring them to cease activities she believes are “taking away our human connection.”
During a discussion on the US chat show *The View*, veteran comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg voiced skepticism regarding the notion that artificial intelligence creations pose a threat to human actors’ employment. Goldberg asserted that audiences are discerning enough to differentiate between human and synthetic performers, citing distinct differences in movement, facial expressions, and overall body language as key indicators.
Norwood, despite an Instagram presence spanning several months, only truly captured Hollywood’s attention this week. This surge in visibility came on the heels of a report from the trade publication Deadline, detailing a weekend summit in Zurich where her creator delivered a presentation.
According to a Saturday report by Deadline, Van der Velden elaborated on her AI production studio and her newly established AI talent agency, Xicoia. She also suggested that Hollywood studios and agencies are discreetly integrating artificial intelligence into their operations, largely unnoticed.
She revealed to the audience that significant projects harnessing the technology are poised for public announcement over the next few months.
