An AI-generated performer named Tilly Norwood has sparked outrage in Hollywood after its Dutch creators revealed it is in talks with talent agencies.

At first glance, Norwood appears like a young actress on social media, complete with professional photos and even an AI-generated comedy sketch portraying her as having “girl next door vibes.” Her Instagram posts claim, “I may be AI, but I’m feeling very real emotions right now.”

But Hollywood stars and the actors’ union are pushing back. SAG-AFTRA, the powerful actors’ guild, condemned Norwood as “not an actor, but a computer-generated character trained on the work of countless professionals,” stressing it lacks real-life experience, emotion, or authenticity.

Oscar-nominated actress Emily Blunt called the creation “terrifying,” while Natasha Lyonne urged boycotts of any agencies that represent it. Whoopi Goldberg also weighed in, saying audiences can easily distinguish synthetic performers from humans.

Tilly was created by Dutch comedian and actor Eline Van der Velden, who described the project as “a piece of art, not a replacement for a human being.” She compared it to drawing or writing a character and argued such creations should be seen as their own genre.

The backlash comes as Hollywood remains wary of artificial intelligence after the 2023 strikes, where AI use was a central issue. SAG-AFTRA reminded studios that employing Norwood could conflict with contractual protections secured in that strike, accusing AI projects of “using stolen performances” and “jeopardizing human livelihoods.”

Despite the criticism, Van der Velden suggested at a recent Zurich summit that studios are already exploring high-profile AI projects, with public announcements expected soon.

Source: BBC