AI Actress's Media Tour Sparks Backlash and Questions

An artificial intelligence-generated performer, Tilly Norwood, has embarked on a press tour that has raised eyebrows among critics and industry professionals. Norwood, developed by Xicoia AI talent studio, has been presented as the first "actor" created entirely by AI. Her emergence, first reported in 2025 when talent agencies began showing interest, has now led to interviews across major news networks, prompting debate about the nature of these interactions.

Norwood has conducted interviews with CNN, NBC, and CBS, among other outlets including The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and the UK's ITV. During her CNN appearance, the AI performer reportedly required extensive prompting to improvise a basic scene and was noted for not being a traditional actor. A representative for Norwood's creator, Eline Van der Velden of Particle 6 Production, stated that the intention is not to replace human actors but to develop other AI-generated figures.

In an interview with NBC's "Today," entertainment correspondent Chloe Melas described Norwood as "glitchy" and "robotic." Norwood herself acknowledged not being real and likened the experience to speaking with ChatGPT, stating, "my purpose is to be a creative tool, not a threat" in response to a question about AI's potential to cause human extinction.

Critics have voiced strong objections to news organizations interviewing an AI entity. Media watchdogs argue that these interviews defy logic, especially in the context of broader discussions and anxieties surrounding AI's societal impact. John Ziegler, a podcaster, called for an end to such practices, stating, "This insanity has GOT to be nipped in the bud! We can NOT have multiple ‘legitimate news organizations’ doing ‘interviews’ with AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood as if she is on a media tour, and not even as some sort of technological experiment."

Matt Jarbo, host of "Hollywood After Dark," expressed puzzlement, noting that the AI's performance and inability to improvise convincingly made it seem "outdated" despite the rapid advancement of AI technology. Mediaite's Brad Slager drew parallels to a controversial instance where a journalist interviewed an AI-generated avatar of a deceased teenager, questioning why news networks are platforming an artificial intelligence "actress."

The Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has also expressed concerns regarding the rise of AI performers. Van der Velden has called for robust regulation and guardrails to prevent the misuse of AI technology.