Story perspectives

AI Actor Tilly Norwood Sparks Hollywood Controversy

1/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Eline van der Velden, CEO of Particle6, created the artificial intelligence (AI) actor Tilly Norwood, sparking controversy in Hollywood.
After suggesting a potential agency signing for Tilly Norwood, backlash from actors and unions followed.
Van der Velden argues AI can be more ethical for performers and urges actors to develop their own AI counterparts.
Particle6 highlights a strict copyright policy and ethical development to ensure Tilly's likeness was not infringed.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" became the first film to feature a fully computer-generated actor, Aki Ross, sparking industry debates about the future of acting and job security for human performers. This tension resurfaced with the creation of AI actor Tilly Norwood, highlighting ongoing concerns over AI's role in the entertainment industry and the need for ethical guidelines in its development.

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Story summary

Eline van der Velden, CEO of Particle6, created the artificial intelligence (AI) actor Tilly Norwood, sparking controversy in Hollywood.
After suggesting a potential agency signing for Tilly Norwood, backlash from actors and unions followed.
Van der Velden argues AI can be more ethical for performers and urges actors to develop their own AI counterparts.
Particle6 highlights a strict copyright policy and ethical development to ensure Tilly's likeness was not infringed.

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