What does the first AI actress mean for Godly creativity?

In September, Deadline reported that Dutch producer, writer and actress, Eline Van de Velden had started an AI talent studio, Xicoia and it was in talks with several talent agents, interested in ‘signing’ its first AI actress.

Tilly Norwood, as she’s been named, is a photo-realistic depiction of a flawless young woman, with long brown hair and a tiny waist. Van de Velden believes Norwood could be the next Scarlett Johansson, much to the dismay of Hollywood’s elite, who have reacted negatively to this technological announcement.

Oscar winning Actress Ariana DeBos grew up in a Catholic home, and believes her purpose is to help others, to heal through art, she wants other women to see themselves in the roles she plays. So having learnt about Van de Valden’s plans she had this to say: “The artistry and dedication and real lived human experiences of SAG-AFTRA performers is what has fuelled the motion picture industry for more than a century. Synthetic performers, on the other hand, are created using technology that is only as effective as the content it is trained on.”

READ MORE: Can AI help your faith?

DeBose makes a salient point. AI cannot create something truly original because it does not have a unique perspective, the knowledge it has was derived from human hands, therefore removing all authenticity. In filmmaking, a performance is a collaborative process between the performers and the production team, it should be a safe space for creativity.

I worry that we should consider the issue of consent, when considering the employment of AI actresses.

So, I worry that we should consider the issue of consent, when considering the employment of AI actresses. With the rise of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, there has been an industry shift, when discussing ethics. One such change is the use of coordinators, whose job it is, to help choreograph intimate scenes and advocate for the actors, if inappropriate behavior arises. This gives agency to the performer and allows for a safer working environment. But according to Raliance, AI has the potential to start a wider discussion about sexual misconduct and how it’s depicted on screen.

READ MORE: Why we need women at the forefront of AI technology

Taking the human actor out of the situation also harms the way we tell stories. If a scene was in poor taste, Tilly Norwood, for example, would be forced into degrading acts of sexual abuse. Therefore, allowing production companies to take advantage, claiming that harm can’t be done if a human actor isn’t involved. After the convictions of Harvey Weinstein actress Chelsea Edmundson said she’s: “not surprised that the first major AI actor is a young woman that they can fully control and make do whatever they want.”

Exodus 35:31-35 tells us that God bestowed creativity as a divine gift, for practical and artistic purposes

Exodus 35:31-35 tells us that God bestowed creativity as a divine gift, for practical and artistic purposes; it was designed for his good works, not abuse. Our imaginative ability is fascinating to God, there is no comprehensive explanation for human imagination or art, but the Christian worldview has an explanation; we create because God did, so therefore creativity begins with him. Adam saw the animals in Eden and had a creative impulse to make verbal representations of what he saw, naming animals like ‘a giraffe,’ a frog’ or ‘a leopard.’

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Furthermore, the Bible credits Jubal with the discovery of instruments and music, after this, Tubal-Cain began making tools, allowing humanities culture to develop further. The bible also celebrates artists such as Bezalel for making the tabernacle and, David, a songwriter who wrote 73 Psalms. Above all, was Jesus, an artisan, who was a skilled carpenter; God has always invited us to be an image-bearer, reflecting his character and beautifully creating.

Candace Cameron Bure is a Christian actress, best known for role in Fuller House. She has spoken about her fear of AI, insisting that storytelling demands a human touch. She says that the industry “doesn’t lack talented people.” Elsewhere Five & Two Studios, the company behind The Chosen, have reaped the benefit of artificial intelligence, as has the shows Director, who uses AI for marketing and distribution.

There may be some that would argue that as God provides inspiration, he could have given us AI. But I would suggest that God’s ideas are filled with the best of intensions, I’m just not sure the same can be said for AI.