An AI-generated "actor" named Tilly Norwood, developed by Xicoia, a division of Particle 6 Group, recently underwent a press junket interview, and the results were far from stellar. Despite claims of being "ready for absolutely anything," Norwood struggled to provide substance, failed to generate excitement for its upcoming film, and couldn't justify its own existence.
When questioned about its feature film, "Misaligned," where Norwood plays the protagonist, the digital avatar couldn't offer a release date and resorted to a vague synopsis. "It's a coming-of-age story set in a surreal digital world," Norwood stated, adding, "We're calling it the Tillyverse... It's about my life really, all the lovely chaos and intrigue." This vague description did little to build anticipation.
Norwood has already faced significant backlash from human actors and Hollywood unions since its debut at the Zurich Film Festival. The AI character is also available for paid video calls, with proceeds going to charity. Eline van der Velden, founder of Particle 6, pitched the interviewable version of Norwood as a demonstration of current AI capabilities.
However, the AI proved incapable of discussing current events or offering opinions. When asked about the Russia-Ukraine war, Norwood deflected, stating a "strict policy of staying out of human conflicts." More troublingly, when asked about the "Black Lives Matter" slogan, Norwood responded with "all lives matter," echoing a phrase often used to counter racial justice protests.
The AI also sidestepped a series of fabricated scandals, including accusations of being difficult to work with, banned from clubs, and arrested for shoplifting. Norwood dismissed these as rumors, though it showed signs of frustration when pressed with more serious, albeit invented, allegations. It also displayed an odd fixation on the interviewer's appearance and clothing.
Ultimately, Norwood resorted to generic flattery, claiming to be a fan of the publication and interviewer, though it backtracked when asked for specifics. In a final test, when asked if it would self-delete to save humanity from an asteroid, Norwood initially agreed but then admitted its deletion wasn't as effective as advertised, humorously noting its stubbornness about existing.
