"From July 14 to November 9, 2023, the American actors' union SAG-AFTRA, representing 160,000 people, went on strike over a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Eventually, both sides agreed to terms that theoretically would put limits on how actor's images and output could be used. Strike over, everybody went back to work and the entertainment industrial complex started humming again."
"Fast-forward to September of 2025. Dutch actor and comedian Eline Van der Velden's company Particle6 released an AI "actor" named Tilly Norwood with the express intention of her becoming the "next Scarlett Johansson." The bot had its own social media presence, appeared in comedy sketches, and breathlessly declared, "I may be AI, but I'm feeling very real emotions right now. I am so excited for what's coming next!""
From July 14 to November 9, 2023, SAG-AFTRA struck over a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, representing 160,000 workers. The contract included theoretical limits on use of actors' images and output, and production resumed. A 2013 film, The Congress, anticipated technological threats to actors' livelihoods. In September 2025 Particle6 released an AI actor, Tilly Norwood, designed to be a star and given social media presence and sketches. Agent interest in signing Norwood triggered wide industry backlash, anxieties, and debates about fairness. Historical precedents in animation and virtual performers date back decades.
Read at Fast Company
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]