The AI industry’s latest endeavor is to create a synthetic actress named Tilly Norwood, designed to become the next big star.

It may sound bizarre, but Tilly represents an emerging trend in which artificial intelligence is taking on human roles in the entertainment industry. As highlighted at the Zurich Film Festival, Tilly is an AI model looking to emulate the likes of real-life actresses such as Scarlett Johansson.

Eline Van der Velden, producer for Tilly’s development studio, Xicoia, expressed excitement about the project: “When we first launched Tilly, people were curious, and now we’re planning to announce her agency representation soon.”

Van der Velden claims that Tilly could become a household name, with Hollywood already buzzing with interest. Critics, however, question the ethics and authenticity of AI actors. The voice and movements of AI performers currently seem unnatural and can provoke discomfort among audiences.

Van der Velden insists that the essence of the story should take precedence over whether the performer has a heartbeat, stating, “We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman.”

The conversation about AI in Hollywood is just beginning, and the implications are far-reaching.