In the video, Norwood appears to use music to respond to critics, spark conversation about the role of artificial intelligence in creative fields, and address the growing backlash against AI in the entertainment industry.
The release, developed by London-based Xicoia Studios, comes ahead of Norwood’s official AI acting debut later this year. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the video offers a first glimpse of the evolving ‘Tilly-Verse’. This is a new entertainment concept in which AI characters “live, interact, and work.”
The song, titled “Take the Lead,” was inspired by a recently published essay by Elaine van der Velden, CEO of production company Particle 6 and its AI talent studio Xicoia.
Van der Velden told the magazine that Tilly was not created to replace human actors, but to explore the creative potential of artificial intelligence.
“Tilly is and always has been a way to test the creative capabilities and limits of AI, without taking anyone’s job away,” she said. “As an actor myself, I loved bringing Tilly to life in this video. The ability to use performance capture to fully bring an AI character to life in this way is an incredible way to bring an unknown actor like me closer to the craft.”
The song was strategically released a few days before the Academy Awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on Sunday.
The AI actor shared the video on his official Instagram page and wrote, “Can’t wait to go to the Oscars! Does anyone know if there is free valet parking for my flamingo? xx”
“My debut single ‘Take The Lead’ has been released!” Post added.
The song appears to serve as a rebuttal to criticism of AI actors in the film industry.
However, the video provoked mixed reactions online. Some social media users criticized the growing use of AI in creative industries.
One user commented: “This is our downfall. AI is destroying our environment and our jobs. And it’s not human. It’s just a machine that takes our jobs.”
Another wrote: “Looks fake…”
Another comment read: “AI has destroyed so many careers in the animation industry and it’s only the beginning. Wait until it’s yours.”
Tilly Norwood was first announced by van der Velden last year as part of an experiment exploring the future of AI-driven entertainment.
