AI-generated 'actress' appears in new music video addressing public backlash
The creators behind AI-generated "actress" Tilly Norwood have released a new music video and song addressing the public backlash to their character.
An account bearing Norwood's name published a music video on Tuesday showing the AI-generated actress singing and dancing to lyrics that seem to confront public pushback, as well as widespread condemnation from the entertainment world.
"When they talk about me, they don't see / the human spark, the creativity / behind the code, behind the light / I'm just a tool, but I've got life," the AI-generated Norwood sings in the music video.
The video shows Norwood singing and dancing through city streets as the London skyline appears in the background.
Another scene shows Norwood living the life of a celebrity, walking out onstage to a packed stadium show at one point, where she grabs a mic and begins to sing to the crowd.
The chorus includes the lyrics, "We can scale, we can grow / be the creators we've always known / It's the next evolution, can't you see? / AI's not the enemy, it's the key."
AI-generated flamingos feature prominently throughout the video, even joining Norwood onstage. She also appears to ride a flamingo-shaped raft through the sky at another point in the video.
At the onset of the video, a message flashes across the screen: "The following production was made by 18 real humans -- from production designers to costume designers to prompters, editors and an actor. No flamingos were harmed in the process."
Noorwood is the creation of Dutch comedian, writer, actress, and producer Eline Van der Velden, the founder of Particle6, a U.K.-based AI production studio.
"I think people are taking her far too seriously. She's a bit of fun and I'm enjoying putting her out there," Van der Velden told ABC News after the release of the music video.
An account for Norwood has more than 90,000 followers on Instagram. There, the account owners share clips of Norwood "acting," as well as describing as her first role.
Van der Velden recently created buzz when she claimed in a Sept. 27 panel at the Zurich Summit that the company was in talks to sign its AI creation -- Norwood --with a talent agency to represent her for acting roles.
The idea quickly prompted backlash in Hollywood, including from actress Emily Blunt, who described the prospect to Variety as "terrifying."
The following day, Sept. 28, Van der Velden said in a statement shared on social media that she views Norwood as a "piece of art," not a replacement for human actors.
In December, when asked about her past comments saying that she aims to make Norwood the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman, Van Der Velden told ABC News' Kyra Phillips, "That's not what she's here for and that's absolutely not my plan."
"I think it's very important for the creative industries to take this tech and control it," she added. "I'm part of the creative industry, so I want us to be in control of the guidelines and the ethics around this and it not to be imposed by the tech industry."
