Overview

• The union said Tilly Norwood is not an actor and alleged the system was trained on performers’ work without permission, arguing synthetics threaten jobs and devalue human artistry.
• Creator Eline Van der Velden introduced Tilly at the Zurich Summit and said multiple agencies and studios have expressed interest, with a representation announcement expected in the coming months.
• Van der Velden defended Tilly as a creative work and a tool comparable to animation, puppetry or CGI, insisting the project is experimentation rather than a replacement for human actors.
• Actors including Emily Blunt, Whoopi Goldberg, Melissa Barrera, Mara Wilson and Natasha Lyonne criticized the venture, with some urging boycotts of agencies that sign AI talent.
• The clash revives AI concerns central to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes, even as some media experts contend there is little serious demand for wholly synthetic stars.