AI character Tilly Norwood releases music video “Take The Lead” in response to Hollywood criticism
Tilly Norwood, an artificial intelligence-generated character created by UK-based company Particle6, has released a music video titled “Take The Lead” while responding to criticism surrounding the use of AI in the entertainment industry.
Norwood was initially introduced online as what her creator describes as “the world’s first AI actress.” The character gained attention through AI-generated sketches and social media posts featuring fictional auditions and performances.
The newly released video depicts Norwood as a musician performing in a large arena and incorporates several AI-generated visuals, including a scene of the character arriving in a limousine and a recurring image of a pink flamingo that is part of the character’s visual identity.
The track includes lyrics that address the role of artificial intelligence in creative work. One line reads, “AI is not the enemy, it’s the key.” The opening verse adds: “When they talk about me, they don’t see the human brilliance and creativity behind the codes and lights. I’m just a tool, but I have a life.”
A disclaimer at the beginning of the video notes that the production involved human participants, saying, “The following work was created by 18 real humans, from production designers to costume designers, teleprompters, editors, and actors.”
The video description also mentions his appearance at the 2026 Academy Awards, scheduled for March 15th.
Norwood’s work has drawn criticism from some in the entertainment industry. Actors union SAG-AFTRA previously issued a statement opposing the project, saying the technology could impact the lives of performers.
“To be clear, ‘Tilly Norwood’ is not an actor; she is a character created without permission or compensation by a computer program trained on the work of countless professional performers,” the union said.
Particle6 founder Elaine van der Velden defended the character in response to criticism.
“To those who expressed outrage over the creation of our AI character Tilly Norwood. She is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work – a work of art,” she wrote in a statement.
