AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood sparks fear and debate in Hollywood

Hollywood is facing a new threat that has left many actors feeling uneasy and scared.

The introduction of Tilly Norwood, the first AI-generated actress created by Dutch comedian Eline Van der Velden, has ignited fierce backlash from industry veterans who fear for the future of their craft.

Actress like Emily Blunt, Melissa Barrera and Whoopi Goldberg, among others, have openly expressed their fears about the rise of AI in film and how it could significantly alter the landscape of acting.

Blunt recently said that having AI actors out in the world is "terrifying". 

"Does it disappoint me? I don’t know how to quite answer it, other than to say how terrifying this is."

After seeing a picture of Norwood, she responded: "No, are you serious? That’s an AI? Good Lord, we’re screwed. That is really, really scary. Come on, agencies, don’t do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection."

Her sentiments resonate with countless actors who are apprehensive about the potential of losing jobs to AI actors.

The worry stems from the fact that Norwood is not just fictional; she is a fully constructed character equipped with her own social media presence and a backstory, the brainchild of Van der Velden's new AI talent studio, Xicoia.

"We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman, that’s the aim of what we’re doing," Van der Velden said during the Zurich Summit at the Zurich Film Festival.

Mainstream actors now fear that models like Norwood could soon take over the human talent seen on screens.

Barrera, popular for her roles on the "Scream" franchise, expressed her disapproval on social media, urging actors to drop their agents if they were representing AI-generated talent.

She tweeted: "Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a**. How gross, read the room."

Goldberg said on "The View" that: "AI-generated actors have a bit of an unfair advantage. The problem with this, in my humble opinion, is that you are suddenly up against something that’s been generated with 5000 other actors."

She continued: “Bring it on. You can always tell them from us. We move differently, our faces move differently, our bodies move differently." 

Concern about AI intruding on creative jobs isn't new. The conversation intensified last year during the writers' and actors' strikes when issues around digital likeness and protections cropped up.

Actors began calling for safeguards to ensure their voices and images wouldn’t be replicated without their consent.

Meanwhile, Norwood's journey started with a light-hearted comedy sketch titled "AI Commissioner" where she playfully said: "I may be AI-generated, but I’m feeling very real emotions right now. I am so excited for what’s coming next!"

With agents already circling her, Norwood is positioned to become a significant player in entertainment.

In the wake of this technological advancement, Van der Velden took to Instagram to maintain that Norwood is not intended to replace human actors, but rather to serve as a "piece of art".

"Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversations, and that in itself shows the power of creativity. 

"I'm an actor myself, and nothing - certainly not an AI character - can take away the craft or joy of human performance ... I hope we can welcome AI as part of a wider artistic family: one more way to express ourselves, along with theatre, film, paint, music and countless others, said Van der Velden.