April 22, 2026 04:18 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
‘PM Modi is a terrorist’: Mallikarjun Kharge sparks row; BJP hits back | ‘What kind of order is this?’: Mamata slams ECI’s bike curbs in poll-bound Bengal, calls it ‘mischief’ | ‘90% of women can’t do politics without entering male politicians’ rooms’: Pappu Yadav sparks row; BJP targets Congress | Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO; John Ternus named successor | 15 killed, 20 injured as bus plunges into gorge in J&K’s Udhampur | Oil jumps over 5% as Strait of Hormuz closure fuels supply fears | Pushback from smartphone makers: Centre drops Aadhaar app pre-install plan — report | Meta eyes first wave of layoffs on May 20: Report | TCS breaks silence on Nida Khan: ‘No HR role, no power’ in Nashik case | ‘Panic reaction’: Rahul Gandhi on women’s bill, says PM Modi ‘wants to send a message’
Tilly
Tilly Norwood. Photo: Tilly Norwood/Instagram

Is this the future of Hollywood? AI actor Tilly Norwood releases music video before Oscars

| @indiablooms | Mar 13, 2026, at 04:46 pm

AI actor Tilly Norwood has made her singing debut with a music video that transports viewers into a world entirely created by artificial intelligence.

In the video, Norwood appears to address the growing backlash against AI in the entertainment industry, using music to respond to critics and spark conversation about the role of artificial intelligence in creative fields.

Developed by London-based Xicoia Studios, the release comes ahead of Norwood’s official AI acting debut later this year. The video also offers the first glimpse into the evolving “Tilly-verse” — a new entertainment concept where AI characters “live, interact and work,” according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter.

The song, titled Take the Lead, is inspired by a recently published essay written by Eline van der Velden, CEO of production company Particle6 and its AI talent studio Xicoia.

Speaking to the magazine, Van der Velden said that Tilly was created to explore the creative possibilities of artificial intelligence rather than replace human actors.

“Tilly is, and has always been, a vehicle to test the creative capabilities and boundaries of AI — not take anyone’s job,” she said. “As an actor myself, I have loved bringing Tilly alive for this video. The ability to use performance capture in this way, to fully inhabit an AI character, is a phenomenal way to bring an unknown actor like me closer to the craft.”

The song was strategically released just days before the Academy Awards, scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Sharing the video on her official Instagram page, the AI actor posted: “Can’t wait to go to the Oscars! Does anyone know if they have free valet parking for my flamingo? xx.”

“My debut single ‘Take The Lead’ is out now!” the post added.

The song appears to act as a rebuttal to critics of AI actors in the film industry.

However, the video has sparked mixed reactions online. Some social media users criticised the growing use of AI in creative industries.

“This will be our downfall. AI is destroying our environment and our jobs. Also, not human. Just a human job-taking machine,” one user commented.

Another wrote: “Looks fake…”

“AI has destroyed so many careers in the animation industry and that’s just the beginning. Wait until it comes for yours,” another comment read.

Tilly Norwood was first unveiled last year by Van der Velden as part of an experiment exploring the future of AI-driven entertainment.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.