Emily Blunt isn't too pleased with one new development in the film industry, as the emergence of an AI 'actress' has caused the Hollywood star to issue an urgent plea for the future.
Artificial intelligence is threatening a number of established industries with tools that eliminate or reduce human involvement, and many experts have predicted that only a few jobs will survive the AI revolution in the near future.
While there have been numerous conversations around the concept of AI 'art' – both surrounding the validity and ethical nature of images generated using artificial intelligence – the rapid evolution of LLM-based video tools have also begun to threaten the world of filmmaking too.
There are already a number of consumer tools that can create short video clips entirely from user prompts, and you have to imagine that more advanced software is hypothetically available to industry experts who might be exploring the concept of integrating it into films as a time and cost saving measure, and perhaps even creating fully fledged movies down the line.
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One development that has already begun to shock people though is the creation of what appears to be the world's first AI 'actress', as AI talent studio Xicoia – which is part of Eline Van der Velden's Particle6 production company – has generated its own new star.
Known as Tilly Norwood, this AI generated actress apparently lives in London according to her Instagram, spends most of her time in cafés, and declares that "you'll either get it or pretend that you don't."
The actress currently has just under 36,000 followers on Instagram, and posts have shown Norwood out and about on the streets of 'London', and even in short clips from equally AI generated films across a number of genres.
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It has understandably caused quite the stir across social media and the film industry at large, with many expressing their horror and outrage at the concept of a movie star that completely removes the human element.
One name in particular who has offered her own aghast reaction is Emily Blunt, who was asked about Norwood while promoting her new film, The Smashing Machine, during Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast.
As per LADbible, Blunt remarked: "Does it disappoint me? I don't know how to quite answer it, other than to say how terrifying this is."
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Upon being shown images of Norwood, Blunt then responded: "No, are you serious? That's an AI? Good Lord, we're screwed. That is really, really scary. Come on agencies, don't do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection."
According to those behind Norwood's creation they want her to be the 'next Scarlett Johansson', but Blunt simply replied "but we have Scarlett Johansson," so why would we need an AI to replace that?
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Eline Van der Velden has since responded to the backlash that partially came from Blunt's comments, arguing that the AI actress "is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work — a piece of art. Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity."
She also expressed her desire for AI characters to "be judged as part of their own genre, on their own merits, rather than compared directly with human actors," although you can definitely understand Blunt's fears that some want AI to replace those we see on screen, only without the humanity that allows cinema as a medium to flourish.