AI Actress Tilly Norwood Sparks Controversy: Creator Aims to Rival Hollywood Stars Despite Creative Community Backlash

Tilly Norwood presents herself as an aspiring actress on her Instagram profile.

United States:

Following a substantial backlash from the creative community, the creator of an AI actress who rapidly gained internet attention over the weekend has emphasized that she is an artistic creation.

Eline Van der Velden revealed at an industry panel in Switzerland that Tilly Norwood—a composite girl-next-door character described as an aspiring actress on Instagram—has already attracted interest from multiple talent agencies.

Van der Velden explained that studios and entertainment companies are quietly integrating AI technology, which her company Particle6 claims can significantly reduce production expenses.

"When Tilly was initially launched, people questioned what she was, but now we're preparing to announce which agency will represent her in the coming months," Van der Velden stated, according to Deadline.

The AI-generated Norwood has already made an appearance in a short sketch, and in July, Van der Velden told Broadcast International about their ambitious plans for their creation.

"Our goal is for Tilly to become the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman—that's the objective of our work."

"People are discovering that creativity needn't be constrained by budget limitations—there are no creative restrictions, which is why AI can truly be a positive force."

AI represents a major point of contention for Hollywood's creative community, and its utilization by studios was among the core issues during the writers' and actors' strikes that affected Hollywood in 2023.

"Scream" actress Melissa Barrera urged performers to boycott any talent representatives involved in promoting the AI actress.

"I hope all actors represented by the agent who does this terminate their relationship. How distasteful, read the room," she wrote on Instagram.

Mara Wilson, who starred in "Matilda" in 1996, argued that such creations deprive real people of work opportunities.

"What about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were combined to create her? Couldn't you hire any of them?" she questioned on social media.

In an extensive post on Norwood's Instagram page, Van der Velden defended the character, insisting she is not taking jobs from humans.

"She is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work—a piece of art. Like many artistic forms before her, she initiates conversation, which itself demonstrates the power of creativity."

"I view AI not as a substitute for people, but as a new tool... AI provides another method to imagine and construct stories."

The use of AI has become increasingly prominent in recent months across creative industries, generating controversy with each instance.

The virtual band "The Velvet Sundown" surpassed one million listeners on the streaming platform Spotify this summer.

In August, Vogue magazine published an advertisement featuring an AI-generated model.