Playing around to make Storm Troopers breakdance, or whatever the kids are doing on those AI apps these days, sounds fun and harmless, but a new creation called Tilly Norwood shows that the future of the technology is full of serious implications for the entertainment industry
The once theoretical concept of replacing humans in filmmaking has been given a face and a name with the new AI synth “actor,” and let’s just say the backlash has been brutal. SAG-AFTRA, the union that protects actors, has called the creation a program that has ripped off real people’s work without their permission, and plenty of big name stars are expressing how much they are opposed to the idea of “synths” in movies. Also, this is low-key the premise of the movie Simone?
Here’s what you need to know on the latest TL;DR.
Give me the TL;DR.
Tilly Norwood is an AI “actress” trying to land “her” first big agent and movie deal, but human actors and fans of human filmmaking are not so hot on the idea.
Wait, I need more. What’s the background here?
Tilly is the creation of an AI production company called Particle 6, which also has its own AI talent studio, Xicoia, per Deadline. The company is the brainchild of Dutch actor and comedian Eline Van der Velden. On September 27, van der Velden mentioned at a panel in Zurich that major talent agencies were interested in representing Tilly.
“We were in a lot of boardrooms around February time, and everyone was like, ‘No, this is nothing. It’s not going to happen,’” she said, according to Deadline. “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.”
She also suggested that companies which outwardly claim not to be using any form of AI are secretly embracing it under the table, per Deadline.
What’s the backlash about?
Simply put, no one understands the point of Tilly, because there doesn’t seem to be one. If Particle 6 had created, say, an AI child (creepy, I know, but hear me out) who didn’t need to work the legally mandated shorter production hours, or an AI elderly person who could commit to 20 seasons of a show without running the risk of, well, passing away, there might be some explanation for why a production would want to use them (though TBH, there’s still a lot of questions that need to be answered about this practice).
But Tilly looks kind of like Mila Kunis. Why not just use Mila Kunis? Why take work away from people who look like Mila Kunis?
Immediately, actors were mad.
“Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$$. How gross, read the room,” wrote Melissa Berrera on Instagram, per Variety. “And what about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?” added Mara Wilson.
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