Emily Blunt Calls AI Actress Terrifying And Scary

An Unexpected Revelation Mid-Interview

While sitting down for an episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, actress Emily Blunt was caught off guard by a breaking news story. In the middle of the interview, held just before the Los Angeles premiere of her film "The Smashing Machine," she was presented with a headline about Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actress who was not only just unveiled but was already attracting interest from talent agents.

Variety shared the full report on the AI actress with Blunt, allowing her to read the news for the first time on air. Her reaction was both immediate and visceral.

"We're Screwed": Blunt's Reaction to an AI Star

"Does it disappoint me? I don’t know how to quite answer it, other than to say how terrifying this is," Blunt stated. Her concern deepened when she was shown a picture of the AI creation. "No, are you serious? That’s an AI? Good Lord, we’re screwed. That is really, really scary." She made a direct plea to the industry, saying, "Come on, agencies, don’t do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection."

Blunt astutely observed that Norwood's appearance seemed to be a composite of well-known actors. When told that the creators hope for the AI to become "the next Scarlett Johansson," Blunt's response was sharp and poignant: "but we have Scarlett Johansson."

Who is Tilly Norwood?

Tilly Norwood is the first digital performer from Xicoia, a new AI talent studio developed by Eline Van der Velden’s production company, Particle6. The project was revealed at the Zurich Summit, where Van der Velden noted that other studios are working on similar AI experiments, with more announcements expected soon.

Hollywood's Ongoing Battle with AI

This development lands in a Hollywood still grappling with the implications of artificial intelligence. The use of digital likenesses and AI-generated performances was a major point of contention during last year's historic WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Actors fought for crucial protections to prevent their voices and images from being replicated without their consent. The news of Tilly Norwood sparked immediate backlash from other figures in Hollywood, including Melissa Barrera and Lukas Gage.

Meanwhile, Emily Blunt stars opposite Dwayne Johnson in the A24 film "The Smashing Machine," which has already generated significant Oscar buzz following its festival debuts.