Hollywood’s new New Girl is rejected by SAG-AFTRA as unauthorized digital performer

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union representing actors in film and television, has issued a sharp rebuke against “Tilly Norwood,” an AI-generated actress unveiled last week. The union declared that the digital performer is “not an actor” but rather “a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation.” The controversy highlights the growing tension between artificial intelligence development and creative industries, as performers across entertainment sectors push back against unauthorized use of their work to train AI systems.

What they’re saying: SAG-AFTRA took a firm stance against recognizing AI-generated performers as legitimate actors in the entertainment industry.

• “To be clear, ‘Tilly Norwood’ is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation,” the union stated.

Industry response: The production studio behind Tilly Norwood claims there’s commercial interest in AI performers, though expert opinions remain divided.

• Talent agents have reportedly expressed interest in the AI actress, according to the production studio.
• However, one expert told Reuters that no “serious” Hollywood executives are currently developing AI characters.

Global pushback: The entertainment industry’s resistance to AI extends beyond Hollywood, with international performers taking legal action.

• Bollywood actors recently brought their concerns about AI use to court.
• Following the legal challenge, AI-generated videos featuring the celebrities disappeared from YouTube.

Music industry contrast: While actors resist AI integration, major music labels are moving toward licensing agreements with AI companies.

• Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group are reportedly nearing deals to allow AI companies to license their song catalogs for model training, according to the Financial Times.

The big picture: Each entertainment sector is taking different approaches to AI integration, with some embracing controlled licensing while others mount legal challenges against unauthorized use of their creative work.