As an actor myself (very famous), I’m unnerved by the introduction of Tilly Norwood, the AI “actress” attracting attention for its lifelike “performance” in several clips posted online by Particle 6, the British company responsible for creating it. Tilly has, apparently, received offers of representation from Hollywood talent agencies. Ironically, if she does end up signing with one of the big agencies, she almost certainly won’t be the fakest starlet on their roster.
Snarky jokes aside, we’re fast approaching the time when AI performances will be indistinguishable from the real thing, which raises the question: If we can get AI to star in movies, what other jobs can it do? Is there another position that requires Tilly’s particular set of skills? She is accommodating, ideologically flexible and almost lifelike—so what about President of the United States? Maybe Americans would finally vote for a female president if she were girl-next-door cute-but, you know, not an actual human woman?
I’m certainly not the first person to suggest that AI might one day rule a nation, if not the entire planet. The trope is as old as civilization itself. The difference now, though, is that we have the technological tools to create our own gods. And, I’ll be honest, Tilly is a lot better-looking than some old dude with a beard.
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