Tilly Norwood, artificial intelligence at its highest advanced form, world premiered at Zurich Film Festival. Her arrival ignited an intense debate about the direction acting is headed and technology’s impact on the film industry. Xicoia’s AI talent studio produced Norwood, who is already being touted as the next Scarlett Johansson. So many studios want to work with this new dynamic digital creature.
Norwood presents this composite against a background of hundreds of real young women’s faces. It is specifically designed to serve as the perfect performing seal for some members of the Tinseltown oligarchic elite. Her unveiling has not only mesmerized industry insiders but has sparked widespread controversy of considerable magnitude. The critics say her very existence takes down these traditional players. They fear that, as we move ever further online, human know-how could be outsourced.
Despite what was still an impressive introductory run, Norwood has since undergone an avalanche of criticism. From Uber to taxi medallion owners to others, many stakeholders have spoken out against her creation, seeing it as an existential threat to their industries. Melissa Barrera, best known for her leading roles in recent horror successes such as “Scream VI” and “Yoga Hosers,” shared her disgust, writing,
“Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$$.”
This sentiment circles back to a larger apprehension among performers about what AI actors mean for their livelihoods. Now, that musician’s former nemesis Ralph Ineson stands with the critics. He drives home the unique power of real human feeling, the type that digital puppets such as Norwood just cannot deliver.
Tilly Norwood is not a figment of your imagination. She’s an extremely advanced AI chat bot designed to replicate human thought and feeling. The AI Commissioner associated with her character has already garnered about 200,000 views online, highlighting the interest and curiosity surrounding this new form of entertainment.
As far as the future of Hollywood film is concerned, Hollywood seems split on Norwood’s possible involvement. Industry heavyweights are hailing her as the ideal actor. At the same time, critics on the left wonder about her financial viability and smart long-term career move. How successful Norwood is will come down to audiences accepting her as a valid artist in her own right. If they only consider her a novelty, she will be doomed to failure.
And now, as studios and services rush to work with Norwood, a talent agency has already been arranged to represent her. The agreement represents an important leap forward in the rapidly developing use of AI in entertainment. That’s promising because it suggests we’ll be seeing more digital actors in upcoming projects. Many who work within the industry warn against hastily leaping into this new paradigm without thought of its larger impact.