Overview

• Tilly Norwood, created by Eline Van der Velden’s Particle6/Xicoia, was showcased at the Zurich Summit, where the creator said talent agencies are in talks and an announcement is expected in the coming months.
• SAG-AFTRA said Tilly is not an actor and asserted the program was trained on work from countless performers without permission or compensation.
• The guild reminded signatory producers that they must comply with contractual obligations, including notice and bargaining, before employing synthetic performers.
• Emily Blunt called the AI character “terrifying” and urged agencies not to sign AI talent, joining criticism from Melissa Barrera, Mara Wilson and others, with Whoopi Goldberg questioning whether AI can match human performance.
• Van der Velden defended Tilly as a creative work and tool rather than a replacement, noting the character’s current output includes a single fully AI-generated sketch, AI Commissioner, and a growing social presence.