An AI-generated performer is back in the spotlight, and the internet is reacting once again.
Tilly Norwood, an AI-created “actor,” has resurfaced with a new single and music video titled “Take the Lead,” a track that openly responds to the backlash surrounding artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry.
The project comes from Xicoia, the AI “talent studio” founded by Eline van der Velden, who first introduced the digital performer last year while attempting to pitch the character to Hollywood talent agencies.
The music video for “Take the Lead” shows the digital performer appearing in multiple outfits and locations while singing lyrics that defend the role of AI in creativity.
At one point, the song claims critics fail to see the human effort behind AI projects. Lyrics in the track include, “They say it’s not real, that it’s fake, but I am still human, make no mistake.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the song was inspired by an essay written by van der Velden addressing the criticism she received from the film industry.
Emmanuel Umahi
Controversy Around AI Performers
When Norwood was first introduced, the concept immediately sparked backlash from actors and industry unions.
The performers’ union SAG-AFTRA criticised the idea of labelling the AI character as an actor, saying the technology was trained using the work of real performers without their consent or compensation.
That criticism reflects a broader debate across Hollywood about whether artificial intelligence could replace creative professionals in the future.
How the Video Was Created
The music video opens with a message claiming it was produced by 18 human contributors, including writers and “prompters.”
The song itself was generated using Suno, an AI music tool that has faced legal challenges from major record labels over copyright concerns.
For the video production, van der Velden’s creative company used several AI tools combined with performance capture, where the founder physically acted out the movements that were later applied to the digital character.
Van der Velden said the goal of the project is not to replace actors but to explore the creative limits of AI technology.
Despite the controversy, the creators behind the digital performer say the project is continuing to evolve.
Van der Velden has suggested that Tilly Norwood could make an acting debut later this year, potentially pushing the experiment with AI-driven characters even further.
Whether audiences embrace the concept or continue to resist it, the project has become another example of how artificial intelligence is reshaping debates around creativity, ownership, and performance in the entertainment industry.
Emmanuel Umahi
