SAG-AFTRA Issues Warning Over AI Actress Tilly Norwood as Industry Debate Intensifies
Los Angeles – SAG-AFTRA, the union representing approximately 160,000 actors and entertainment professionals, has issued a statement addressing the controversy surrounding Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actress created by Eline Van der Velden.The union’s response signals a firm stance against the unchecked integration of artificial intelligence into the production pipeline and underscores protections secured during the 2023 actors strike.
The debate ignited after Van der Velden, founder of AI production company Particle 6 and AI talent studio Xicoia, revealed at the zurich Summit on Saturday that she was in discussions with talent agents regarding depiction for Norwood. This news prompted immediate backlash from actors including Melissa Barrera, Kiersey Clemons, Whoopi Goldberg, and Emily Blunt, raising concerns about the future of human performers.
SAG-AFTRA previously negotiated safeguards for actors’ likenesses and performances against unauthorized AI use following the 2023 labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and television Producers.The union’s latest statement is widely interpreted as a warning to studios and companies exploring AI in production.
Van der Velden initially soft-launched Tilly Norwood on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube over the summer. In response to the growing criticism, she released a statement Monday asserting that Norwood should be viewed as “a creative work – a piece of art,” and not a replacement for human actors.
“I see AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool, a new paintbrush,” Van der Velden stated. “Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting, AI offers another way to imagine and build stories. I’m an actor myself, and nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance.”