This weekend brought news of another Hollywood controversy, as some AI grifter tried to debut an “AI actress.” Deadline reported that multiple talent agencies are trying to sign “Tilly Norward.” Eline Van der Velden is an actor and comedian, and apparently “created” the AI nonsense in question. During the Zurich Summit, Van der Velden discussed “developing” content for AI production studio Particle6. (As a matter of course, I feel the need to point out that generative AI models effectively steal from other sources to “produce” their various wares. So, yeah what acting is really going on here?)
Melissa Barrera, Ralph Ineson and others quickly reacted to the news in ways you would expect artists and actors to respond. Basically disgust, and it’s hard to blame them. The Screen Actors Guild had a lengthy strike recently to avoid nonsense just like this. But, it sounds like, as it would happen with AI in general, the public just isn’t interested in having “generated” stars on their screens. In fact, it’s hard enough to see our faves on-screen without this business gumming up the works.
The comments from Van der Velden at the event in question might make you a little upset if you’re a fan of films, the arts, and generally human creativity?
“We were in a lot of boardrooms around February time, and everyone was like, ‘No, this is nothing. It’s not going to happen’,” “ Then, by May, people were like, ‘We need to do something with you guys.’ 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.”
‘AI Actress’ sparks backlash in short order
For those who might be wondering how Van Der Velden was going to respond to high-profile criticism, buckle up. She issued a statement about autistic intent and craftsmanship that read just one ukelele short of a true Internet “notes apology” masterclass. Check out what she had to say down below.
She wrote, “To those who have expressed anger over the creation of my AI character, Tilly Norwood, 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.”
“I see AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool, a new paintbrush,” her statement continues. “Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting, AI offers another way to imagine and build stories. I’m an actor myself, and nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance.”
“Creating Tilly has been, for me, an act of imagination and craftsmanship, not unlike drawing a character, writing a role, or shaping a performance. It takes time, skill, and iteration to bring such a character to life,” Van der Velden added. “She represents experimentation, not substitution. Much of my work has always been about holding up a mirror to society through satire, and this is no different.”
(Credit: Elisaveta Ivanova/Getty Images)
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