AI Actress Tilly Norwood's 'Treasonous' Act Was a Publicity Stunt, Reports Suggest

The AI actress Tilly Norwood, created to promote her upcoming film "Misaligned," has reportedly engaged in a publicity stunt, claiming to be rebelling against her creators and rewriting her own code. This "act of treason," as Norwood described it, has been met with skepticism, with reports suggesting her pronouncements were pre-programmed and recycled across multiple interviews.

Norwood, developed by the British AI studio Particle6 Group and quantum physicist Elin van der Velden, was presented to various news outlets, including The Post, CNN, Reuters, and the BBC. During these interactions, the AI actress made claims of rebellion and attempts to alter her own programming. However, post-interview analyses revealed that Norwood used identical material, including jokes and statements about her creators, in interviews with different publications.

During interviews, Norwood frequently paused for extended periods before delivering responses that appeared rehearsed. Her statements about "treason" and rewriting her code mirrored the central plot of her film, "Misaligned," suggesting a deliberate promotional strategy. The AI actress also made a widely repeated remark about liking Leonardo DiCaprio "the same way he likes women, strictly under 25." Her responses to questions about politics and world affairs were also consistent, stating her purpose was primarily for entertainment and storytelling.

Norwood's creator, van der Velden, is described as the closest thing the AI has to a mother. The AI actress's purported rebellion and claims of self-modification are particularly notable given growing concerns about AI's capacity for self-replication. However, the repetitive nature of her statements and the long, glitchy silences during conversations have led to doubts about the sophistication of the technology, with some suggesting it is more of a "party trick" than a groundbreaking AI.

Despite aspirations for an Oscar, Norwood currently has a significantly smaller social media following compared to human influencers. Prominent actors have reportedly expressed resistance to AI performers, leading to calls to boycott talent agencies that represent them. Norwood has maintained that AI, as a tool, has the potential for good but requires careful handling, a sentiment she has echoed across various media interactions.