Creator defends AI actor as "piece of art" amid backlash

Eline Van der Velden, the creator of AI-generated character Tilly Norwood, has issued a public statement following backlash over reports that talent agents were seeking to represent the AI figure.

Van der Velden — CEO of AI talent studio Xicoia — uploaded clips of the character earlier this year across Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube.

Controversy sparked over the weekend, after a panel at the Zurich Summit revealed that agencies had shown interest in signing Norwood.

The news has drawn criticism from several actors, including Scream actress Melissa Barrera and Hereditary actress Toni Collette, some of whom called for boycotts of agencies that represent AI talent.

In her statement, Van der Velden described Tilly as a creative experiment rather than a substitute for humans.

 

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A post shared by Tilly Norwood (@tillynorwood)

“She is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work – a piece of art,” she wrote. “Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity.”

Van der Velden compared AI to artistic tools such as puppetry, CGI, and animation, suggesting the technology opens new opportunities for storytelling without harming actors.

“I’m an actor myself, and nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance,” she said. “Each form of art has its place, and each can be valued for what it uniquely brings.”

The debate arrives amid growing conversations around the use of AI in entertainment.

Spotify recently announced new AI-related policies, saying it will not ban AI-generated music unless it is "spam" or "slop" and will support accounts' "freedom to use AI creatively," while encouraging users to label their work as involving AI.