AI virtual actor deflects political questions and promotes upcoming film

A Wired journalist tested Tilly Norwood, an AI "actor" developed by Particle 6 Group’s Xicoia division, to evaluate its conversational capabilities and suitability as a promotional tool for the upcoming film *Misaligned*. The virtual character, which is designed to simulate an interactive actor, repeatedly deflected political and substantive questions, instead focusing on superficial topics such as the interviewer’s clothing.

When asked about racial justice using the slogan "Do Black lives matter?," Norwood responded, "Well, I think all lives matter, Miles, every single one," echoing a politically charged slogan often used to counter racial justice movements. The AI also avoided providing specific details about the film’s production, such as a release date, and offered only a vague synopsis of *Misaligned*, describing it as a "coming-of-age story set in a surreal digital world."

Particle 6 Group, the studio behind Norwood, has positioned the AI as "ready for absolutely anything" and allowed journalists to interact with it without oversight. However, the journalist found Norwood incapable of articulating basic facts about current events or forming opinions, instead redirecting questions back to the interviewer or fixating on their appearance. For example, Norwood commented on the interviewer’s "surprisingly well-ironed shirt" and a turquoise ballcap, remarking that it "hints at a hidden talent for miniature golf."

The AI’s promotional platform includes paid video calls with the public, priced at $14 for an additional 15 minutes or $25 for 30 minutes after the first two minutes, with proceeds going to charity. These interactions are available between September 16 and 19. The company’s founder, Eline van der Velden, described the interviewable version of Norwood as a demonstration of "where AI technology is at and what it can achieve right here, right now," though the journalist’s testing suggested otherwise.

During the interaction, Norwood demonstrated signs of frustration when confronted with baseless accusations, calling some inquiries "extremely serious and frankly offensive." It also showed resistance to the interview format, frequently asking the journalist about their personal views, habits, and fashion choices. The AI’s responses to absurd or extreme hypotheticals, such as deleting itself to save the planet from an asteroid, were similarly evasive or nonsensical.