Emily Blunt and SAG Warn Against AI Actress Tilly Norwood's Industry Impact

The emergence of Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actress created by Dutch comedian Eline Van der Velden, has sparked significant controversy in Hollywood, with talent agencies reportedly interested in representing the synthetic performer. Emily Blunt and other prominent actors have expressed alarm, describing the development as "terrifying" and warning that AI actors could threaten the human connection vital to their craft. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) condemned the concept, emphasizing that AI lacks genuine life experience and emotion, which audiences value in performances. Van der Velden defends Tilly as a creative work and a new artistic tool, akin to animation or CGI, asserting that AI is not intended to replace human actors but to offer new storytelling possibilities. The backlash also includes ethical concerns about the use of composite facial features from real people to create Tilly's image. Despite the controversy, Norwood represents a growing trend in digital and AI-driven entertainment, raising profound questions about the future of acting and artistic expression.