The emergence of an artificial intelligence actress has ignited a fierce debate within the entertainment industry, pitting technological innovation against concerns over actors' livelihoods.
The AI Star Causing a Stir
AI production studio Particle6 has unveiled Tilly Norwood, a digital actress in her twenties created entirely through artificial intelligence. The studio's founder, actor and comedian Eline Van der Velden, has faced significant criticism from Hollywood figures since the announcement.
Speaking exclusively to Sky News, Van der Velden pushed back against claims that synthetic performers like Norwood threaten traditional acting jobs. "She's not meant to take jobs in the traditional film," Van der Velden insisted to correspondent Dominic Waghorn.
Defending the Digital Performer
Van der Velden positioned AI entertainment as "developing as a completely separate genre" rather than competing directly with human actors. "And that's where Tilly is meant to stay," she explained. "She's meant to stay in the AI genre and be a star in that. I don't want her to take real actors' jobs. I wanted to have her own creative path."
The concept has drawn sharp criticism from established industry figures. Mary Poppins Returns star Emily Blunt labelled Norwood "really, really scary," while the US actors' union SAG-AFTRA issued a strongly worded statement.
The union clarified that "Tilly Norwood is not an actor, it's a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers - without permission or compensation."
A New Era for British Entertainment
Responding to the backlash, Van der Velden argued that resistance to AI technology is futile. "We can't stop it," she stated. "If we put our head in the sand, then our jobs will be gone. However, instead, if we learn how to use these tools, if we use it going forward, especially in Britain, we can be that creative powerhouse."
The studio founder provided concrete examples of how AI technology could benefit productions, particularly those struggling with financial constraints. "Some productions get stuck, not able to find the last 30% of their budget, and so they don't go into production," she revealed.
Van der Velden claimed that by replacing some shots with AI technology, Particle6 has already helped several struggling projects move forward. "Now with AI, by replacing some of the shots [...] we can actually get that production going and working," she said. "So as a result, we get more jobs, we get more actors working, so that's all really, really positive news."
The debate around Tilly Norwood highlights the broader industry tensions as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly sophisticated, forcing entertainment professionals to reconsider traditional production methods and employment models.
