No, That AI-Generated Country Song Isn't a No. 1 Hit Welcome back to In the Loop, new twice-weekly newsletter about AI. If you're reading this in your browser, why not subscribe to have the next one delivered straight to your inbox? This week, many headlines declared that an AI-generated song, "Walk My Walk" by Breaking Rust, had become the biggest country song in America. This is unequivocally not true. "Walk My Walk," a laughably generic country song about independence and defiance, had middling organic momentum on streaming and search before it topped Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart last week.

A.I. tools are getting better at producing convincing images, text, and videos. Does that mean they can make art? Generative A.I., once an uncanny novelty, is now being used to create not only images and videos but entire "artists." Its boosters claim that the technology is merely a tool to facilitate human creativity; the major use cases we've seen thus far--and the money being poured into these projects--tell a different story. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss the output of Timbaland's A.I. rapper TaTa Taktumi and the synthetic actress Tilly Norwood.

Equity confirmed it was supporting a Scottish actor who believes her image was used in the creation of Tilly Norwood (above), an AI-generated'actor'. Equity confirmed it was supporting a Scottish actor who believes her image was used in the creation of Tilly Norwood (above), an AI-generated'actor'. Equity threatens mass direct action over use of actors' images in AI content The performing arts union Equity has threatened mass direct action over tech and entertainment companies' use of its members' likenesses, images and voices in AI content without permission. Its general secretary, Paul W Fleming, said it planned to coordinate data requests en masse to companies to force them to disclose whether they used members' data in AI-generated material without consent. Last week the union confirmed its was supporting a Scottish actor who believes her image was used in the creation of the "AI actor" Tilly Norwood, which has been widely condemned by the film industry.

The Industry A.I. Is Ready to Crush Hollywood as We've Known It Generative video tools are ready to flood the market with robot actors and content--leaving studios and actors scrambling to catch up. Enter your email to receive alerts for this author. You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. You're already subscribed to the aa_Nitish_Pahwa newsletter. You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

A still from an AI generated Tilly Norwood video. A still from an AI generated Tilly Norwood video. 'It's too late to be scared': readers on the controversial rise of AI'actors' The birth of AI'actor' Tilly Norwood has caused a backlash in Hollywood and has sparked conversation from Guardian readers Tilly Norwood: how scared should we be of the viral AI'actor'? T he unveiling of AI'actor' Tilly Norwood - touted as the next Scarlett Johansson - was met with swift backlash in Hollywood. Here's what Guardian readers have to say about the controversial rise of AI actors.

Emily Blunt among Hollywood stars outraged over'AI actor' Tilly Norwood An AI actor named Tilly Norwood has been causing a stir after its Dutch creators said the synthetic performer is in talks with talent agencies. Norwood could be mistaken for a young, aspiring actress when one glances at its social media. The brunette poses for photos and showcases a fully AI-generated comedy sketch, where it is described as having girl next door vibes. I may be AI, but I'm feeling very real emotions right now, Tilly's creators wrote on her page. I am so excited for what's coming next!

'A character generated by a computer program' 'AI actor' Tilly Norwood in AI Commissioner. 'A character generated by a computer program' 'AI actor' Tilly Norwood in AI Commissioner. Emily Blunt and Sag-Aftra join film industry condemnation of'AI actor' Tilly Norwood US actors' union joins stars in opposition to Norwood, which it says was created'using stolen performances' The controversy around the "AI actor" Tilly Norwood continues to grow, after the actors' union Sag-Aftra condemned the development and said Norwood's creators were "using stolen performances". Sag-Aftra released a statement after the AI "talent studio" Xicoia unveiled its creation at the Zurich film festival, prompting an immediate backlash from actors including Melissa Barrera, Mara Wilson and Ralph Ineson. Sag-Aftra said it believed creativity was, "and should remain, human-centred. The union is opposed to the replacement of human performers by synthetics."

Tilly Norwood: how scared should we be of the viral AI'actor'? Emily Blunt and Sag-Aftra join film industry condemnation of'AI actor' Tilly Norwood It takes a lot to be the most controversial figure in Hollywood, especially when Mel Gibson still exists. And yet somehow, in a career yet to even begin, Tilly Norwood has been inundated with scorn. This is for the simple fact that Tilly Norwood does not exist. Despite looking like an uncanny fusion of Gal Gadot, Ana de Armas and High School Musical-era Vanessa Hudgens, Norwood is the creation of an artificial intelligence (AI) talent studio called Xicoia. And if Xicoia is to be believed, then Norwood represents the dazzling future of the film industry.