SAG-AFTRA Condemns AI Generated Actress Threatening Actor Livelihoods

The emergence of Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated digital actress, has sparked significant backlash from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which represents about 160,000 entertainment professionals. SAG-AFTRA strongly opposes the use of AI-generated performers, arguing that Tilly Norwood is not a real actor but a character created by a computer program trained on the work of countless human performers without their permission or compensation. The union highlights that AI creations lack life experience, emotion, and the human connection that audiences value, and warns that such synthetic performers threaten to replace human actors, jeopardizing their livelihoods and devaluing human artistry. SAG-AFTRA insists that any use of AI performers must comply with existing contract rules that protect performers' likeness, consent, and compensation, and emphasizes that ignoring these safeguards could lead to legal disputes. The union's stance comes after securing new agreements in 2023 to guard against unauthorized digital replication of performers and amid ongoing industry debates about the role of AI in entertainment. SAG-AFTRA continues to advocate for human-centered creativity in Hollywood and is prepared to enforce protections to ensure fair treatment and job security for actors.