Artificial intelligence is dominating the tech world right now, but as AI becomes as big as it’s cracked up to be, concerns about its ethics have been a topic of conversation in many industries. Even in the film industry, directors, actors and writers around the world are trying to take a stand so that AI does not take their place or use their image or work without consent. In the midst of all this, AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood has sparked more controversy, with many speaking out against the idea. Now, Tilly’s creator, Eline van der Velden, has spoken out about her creation.
Velden, CEO of artificial intelligence company Particle6, shared with Variety why she thinks Tilly is important to the future of Hollywood. For those who call Tilly nothing more than a piece of codeVelden said: “When people talk about Tilly Norwood, they often forget one crucial detail: there is a real person and a creative human vision behind her. Actors have always brought characters to life, and that’s exactly what I did with Tilly. She didn’t just show up because the AI wanted her to, I wanted her to!”
He called the use of AI actors more ethical than traditional acting, arguing that this will help actors take on difficult and challenging roles without going through the physical and mental burden. She said: “Dangerous stunts, intimate scenes, extreme physical transformations and endless hours of hair, makeup and touch-ups are all part of the deal, not to mention the constant scrutiny if a performer’s face dares to age in the ‘wrong’ way. And yet some find it more acceptable to a person to change their appearance through surgery instead of digitally.”
Velden went on to call it a “more ethical alternative” with which an actor can avoid “dangerous stunts, extreme beauty standards or invasive procedures.” Comparing AI actors to puppets, Welden said: “We’ve seen this before: a puppet is not alive, but no one doubts the art of the puppeteer. The same applies to animated characters, masks, costumes, and motion-captured creatures. An AI actor is simply a more responsive puppet, one that can learn, adapt to its creator, and perform in all media.”
This statement comes just after 700 members of the Hollywood community, including actors such as Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, joined a campaign against AI. The group issued a statement in which they demanded “better copyright laws” and argued that “stealing is not innovation.” The statement also said: “It’s not progress. It’s theft, plain and simple. There is a better way: Through licensing agreements and partnerships, some AI companies have taken the ethical and responsible route to obtain the content and materials they want to use.”