Technology Updates: AI 'actor' Tilly Norwood steps out in music video that makes Rebecca Black's Friday look like Beyonce's Formation

Source:

https://www.polygon.com/ai-actor-tilly-norwood-music-video-take-the-lead/

ChatGPT:

An AI-generated “actor” named Tilly Norwood has returned to the spotlight with a new song and music video titled “Take the Lead,” reigniting debate about artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry. The digital performer was created by AI talent studio Xicoia, founded by Eline van der Velden, who previously attempted to get the virtual character signed by Hollywood talent agencies.

When Tilly Norwood was first introduced in 2025, the concept drew heavy criticism from industry professionals. The actors’ union SAG-AFTRA strongly opposed the idea, arguing that the AI character was trained using the work of real performers without permission or compensation. The controversy sparked broader concerns about whether AI-generated performers could replace human actors.

The new music video appears to respond directly to that backlash. In the video, Norwood appears in constantly changing outfits and locations while singing lyrics that defend the creativity behind AI projects. The song argues that human creativity and effort still exist behind the technology, emphasizing that real people coded and designed the AI character.

According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, the music itself was generated using Suno, a tool that has faced legal challenges from major record labels over copyright issues. The video was produced by van der Velden’s company Particle6, using a mix of publicly available AI tools and proprietary techniques. The creators say 18 human contributors were involved in producing the project, including prompt writers and performers.

One technique used was performance capture, where van der Velden physically acted out the movements and expressions that the AI character later replicated on screen. She described the project as an experiment to test the creative potential of AI rather than a replacement for human actors.

Despite criticism and awkward reception to the song, Tilly Norwood’s creators say the AI “actor” will continue evolving, with an acting debut planned later in 2026.

Comments:

We have come so far with AI tech 😅