Tilly Norwood, who is recognized as Hollywood’s first AI-generated actress, has become the subject of discussion within the creative community. Developed by Eline Van der Velden and her company, Particle6, Tilly is a computer-generated “girl next door” who has attracted a growing fanbase and interest from talent agencies.
Van der Velden mentioned to an industry panel in Switzerland that studios and entertainment companies are quietly embracing AI technology, which her company believes can significantly reduce production costs. She said, “When we first launched Tilly, people were like, ‘What’s that?’, and now we’re going to be announcing which agency is going to be representing her in the next few months.”
Tilly Norwood has appeared in a short sketch, and it is expected that she will become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. Van der Velden said, “We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman, that’s the aim of what we’re doing. People are realizing that their creativity doesn’t need to be boxed in by a budget, there are no constraints creatively and that’s why AI can really be a positive.”
The arrival of Tilly Norwood, however, has been met with some criticism from Hollywood actors and creative professionals. The use of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry was a major point of discussion during the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes.
Actress Melissa Barrera criticised talent agents who are promoting AI actors, and she encouraged her fellow actors to refrain from supporting them.
On the other hand, Mara Wilson, who was the child star in Matilda, highlighted the ethical concerns about Tilly’s creation. She questioned, “What about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?”
Regarding the criticisms, Van der Velden shared Tilly’s post defending her creation. She said, “She is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work – a piece of art. Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity.”
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