Creator of First AI Actress Reveals Plans That Will Have Hollywood Understandably Terrified

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The debate around artificial intelligence is causing quite a stir in Hollywood. Whenever a movie or show admits to using AI in its creation, there’s an immediate negative reaction. The situation escalated when an AI actor, named Tilly Norwood, was created and started looking for an agent. While Tilly doesn’t have feelings, the news understandably upset many. However, its creator, Eline Van der Velden – an actress and tech entrepreneur – is determined to make Tilly a star, and she has even bigger plans in the works. Get ready, because things are about to get strange.

According to Deadline, Van der Velden spoke at the Zurich Summit and shared an update on representing Norwood. There were recent reports of agencies eager to work with the first AI actress, and Van der Velden clarified that she doesn’t intend to position Norwood as competition to human actors.

I don’t have specifics to share right now, but many agencies have expressed interest. She’s become much more well-known, and we’re currently discussing the best path forward given her increased profile.

I believe movies fall into three main categories: animation, regular live-action films, and films made with artificial intelligence. Tilly’s story was always intended for the AI category, and that’s where it will remain.

Van der Velden announced plans to continue creating AI performers, calling it a new “AI genre.” While she and her company have been developing these AI actors for a while, they aren’t quite ready for public release.

We’re building a diverse group of around 40 characters to populate this new AI-focused world. We’ve started developing them, but we’re still working to refine them before we share them. It’s a slow process to create characters I’m really satisfied with.

Is the Rise of AI Actors Inevitable?


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Van der Velden is very open about her predictions for the future, particularly concerning AI’s impact on actors and the rapidly developing world of generative AI. While acknowledging the technology’s growth and potential benefits, she also points out that AI is starting to replace human jobs in entertainment, potentially lowering production costs. When questioned about potential job losses, Van der Velden shifted the focus to the positive role AI plays in fields like medicine.

Back in 2016, some predicted that artificial intelligence would replace radiologists, arguing that AI could perform image analysis more effectively. However, the opposite happened. Advances in technology actually allowed for more scans and, consequently, the discovery of more medical issues, leading to an increased demand for radiologists.

So, should we welcome artificial intelligence into creative fields like acting? Van der Vendel argues that change is simply part of the industry. Jobs evolve, and many roles today didn’t even exist a century ago. While she can’t prevent these shifts, she believes AI could actually revitalize a somewhat stagnant industry. Interestingly, young actors are eager to explore this new technology. However, she doesn’t foresee AI-generated characters completely replacing human actors.

We’ve been contacted by many actors, both established stars and newcomers, interested in having their image used in this emerging field of AI-driven entertainment. Often, well-known actors are looking for a way to continue performing even if they can’t physically be on set, and they’re interested in creating a digital version of themselves. Of course, we would only do this with their full permission and fair payment. We’re able to help them achieve this.

We’re also open to working with up-and-coming actors who are interested in AI-driven films. We expect a new wave of creativity in this area. While traditional filmmaking with actors will likely continue for a long time, perhaps indefinitely, we still believe in the importance of real performers. I don’t foresee AI characters completely replacing actors on screen anytime soon; that shift won’t happen quickly.

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2025-11-10 16:18