CNN Just Ran One of the Worst AI Puff Pieces We’ve Ever Seen in Our Lives About That “AI Actor” Tilly Northwood

Last year, an artificial intelligence entity known as "Tilly Norwood" caused a significant stir in the entertainment industry. Critics argued that the algorithmic brunette's presence was inopportune, as the industry was already grappling with the proliferation of cheap AI-generated content. Tilly Norwood's emergence reignited a contentious debate about artificial intelligence's potential to replace human creativity, a prospect that has irked many influential figures in Hollywood.

Tilly Norwood is seen as a prime example of the AI sector's hubris, convincing itself that artificial intelligence agents engaged in screen performances are something that audiences genuinely desire. Regrettably, mainstream media outlets seem unable to resist covering Tilly Norwood. Just months after the New York Times faced widespread ridicule for featuring a "profile" of the "actress," CNN has aired its own AI puff piece.

In the CNN piece, reporter Elizabeth Wagmeister interviewed Tilly Norwood, treating the bot as if it were a human subject. Wagmeister inquired whether the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the entity responsible for the Oscars, should recognize AI actors like Tilly. In response, Tilly Norwood asserted that the Academy should indeed acknowledge AI actors, suggesting the creation of separate categories to honor the evolving landscape of film and television.

CNN further probed Tilly Norwood by asking it to improvise a scene. However, the AI model declined, explaining that it could only act out prompts given to it and required a series of cues to determine its actions. The AI puff piece led to widespread outrage and mockery on social media platforms. Viewers criticized CNN for anthropomorphizing the technology by presenting Tilly Norwood as a human being, labeling the act as "journalistic malpractice."

Despite CNN's disclaimer that the "interview" was not genuine, as Tilly Norwood is not a real entity, the video profile incited a backlash. CNN's decision to spotlight a lifeless AI model and present it as human was deemed irresponsible and damaging to their credibility. In addition to the CNN piece, Tilly Norwood is reportedly set to star in a new "movie" titled "Misaligned."

Described as a "coming-of-age story infused with existential AI chaos" within the so-called "Tillyverse," the film promises to be as tiresome as its creators' treatment of the AI.