‘AI actor’ Tilly Norwood is dividing Hollywood – but real acting requires humanity

Recently, the entertainment world has seen a new star emerge, illuminated by the spotlights so coveted by thousands and thousands of artists, eager to make a living from their passion. Her name is Tilly Norwood and her fame has skyrocketed in a matter of weeks; her story has already been told by famous newspapers such as the BBC and Forbes. However, there is one small detail that needs to be mentioned in order to better understand the situation: Tilly does not exist.

The face you see around does not belong to any human being, because the girl who is currently so famous is an “AI” actress, created by Particle6 Studios, a film production company specialising in artificial intelligence. Following her debut, several agencies contacted the studio to secure this actress as a resource within their repertoire.

Acting is generally considered an art form that stems from a combination of skill, empathy and collaboration and, above all, a genuine exploration of what it means to be human. Could an AI actress really be capable of grasping the meaning and nuances of this art form? The answer is currently uncertain, with Hollywood seemingly divided between two rather contrasting opinions.