It seems Tilly Norwood, the so-called “actress” generated by artificial intelligence, has no intention of disappearing. The digital creation is back in the public eye with a new single and music video that, far from silencing the critics, aims to be a defense of using AI in entertainment.
For those who need a refresher, Tilly Norwood is the creation of Xicoia, an AI “talent” studio founded by Eline van der Velden. Its launch last fall sparked a wave of criticism, particularly from SAG-AFTRA, the American actors’ union. In a statement, the union was blunt: “Tilly Norwood is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program trained on the work of countless professional artists, without their permission or compensation.” The controversy didn’t stop van der Velden from trying to get her creation signed by real Hollywood talent agencies.
Now, van der Velden has decided to respond to her critics with music. The track, titled “Take the Lead,” is according to The Hollywood Reporter an adaptation of an essay written by the Xicoia founder herself about the industry’s rejection. The lyrics aim to humanize the digital entity, with lines like: “They say it’s not real, it’s fake / But I’m still human, no mistake / My soul is in every move I make.” However, the result is, to say the least, an awkward proposition that becomes harder to digest as it progresses.
The music video accompanying the song shows Norwood in a constant change of wardrobe and settings. The production opens with a message seeking legitimacy: it claims to have been made by “18 real humans,” including “prompters.” The fine print of its creation, however, complicates this narrative. According to reports, the song was generated using Suno, an AI platform that was sued by major record labels in 2024 for copyright infringement. (Ironically, Warner Music later partnered with them, proving once again that in the industry, if you can’t beat them, you might as well join them.) As for the visuals, they were created by Particle6, van der Velden’s company, which used “a suite of readily available AI tools, combined with its proprietary creative process,” including motion capture techniques performed by van der Velden herself.
Van der Velden justifies her project from her own experience as an actress: “Tilly is, and always has been, a vehicle to test the creative capabilities and boundaries of AI — not to take anyone’s job.” She adds: “As an actor, I loved bringing Tilly to life for this video. I believe the ability to use performance capture in this way, to fully inhabit an AI character, is a phenomenal way to bring an unknown actor like myself closer to the craft.”
Despite the controversy, the experiment will continue. Tilly Norwood’s “official” acting debut is scheduled for later this year. It remains to be seen whether the audience and the industry are ready—or willing—to accept it.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews