AI actor Tilly Norwood releases a musical video arguing that artificial intelligence can expand creativity in film
Updated
March 13, 2026 2:18 PM
AI Actor Tilly Norwood. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM@TILLYNORWOOD
As Hollywood prepares for this weekend’s Oscars, a different kind of performer is stepping into the spotlight — one that doesn’t physically exist.
Tilly Norwood, described as the world’s first AI actor, has released her debut musical comedy video, Take the Lead. The project arrives at a moment when artificial intelligence has become one of the most contentious topics in the film industry.
The message of the song is simple. AI should not be seen as a threat to actors. Instead, it can become another creative tool. The release also offers a first look at what Norwood’s creators call the “Tillyverse”. It is envisioned as a cloud-based entertainment world where AI characters can live, interact and perform.
Behind the character is actor and producer Eline van der Velden. She is the CEO of production company Particle6 and AI talent studio Xicoia. Van der Velden created Tilly as a way to experiment with how artificial intelligence could be used in storytelling.
The timing is not accidental. The entertainment industry has spent the past few years debating the role AI should play in filmmaking and acting. Questions about digital replicas, automated performances and creative ownership continue to divide artists and studios.
Norwood’s musical video enters that debate with a different tone. Instead of warning about AI replacing actors, the project suggests that the technology could expand what performers are able to do.
The video itself also serves as a technical experiment. The song Take the Lead was generated using the AI music platform Suno. The video was then produced using a combination of widely available AI tools and Particle6’s own creative process.
One of the newer techniques used in the project is performance capture. Van der Velden physically acted out Tilly’s movements and expressions so the digital character could mirror a human performance. But the production was far from automated. According to Particle6, a team of 18 people worked on the video. The group included a director, editor, production designer, costume designer, comedy writer and creative technologist. In other words, the project still relied heavily on human creativity.
“Tilly has always been a vehicle to test the creative capabilities and boundaries of AI,” van der Velden said. “It’s not about taking anyone’s job”. She added that even with powerful tools, good AI content still takes time, taste and creative direction.
The project also reflects how quickly production technology is evolving. Tools that once required large studios are now accessible to smaller creative teams experimenting with AI-driven storytelling.
For Particle6, the character of Tilly Norwood acts as a testing ground. Each project explores how AI performers might be developed, directed and integrated into entertainment. Whether audiences embrace digital actors remains an open question. Many in the industry are still wary of how AI could reshape creative work.
But projects like Take the Lead show another possibility. Instead of replacing performers, artificial intelligence could become part of the creative process itself. In that sense, Tilly Norwood may represent something more than a virtual performer. She is also an experiment in how humans and machines might collaborate in the future of entertainment.
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Bitmo Lab is testing an ultra-thin, bendable tracker built to fit inside items traditional trackers can’t
Updated
February 12, 2026 4:43 PM
Bitmo Lab's MeetSticker tracker. PHOTO: BITMO LAB
Location trackers have become everyday accessories for keys, bags and luggage. But as personal items grow slimmer and more design-focused — from minimalist wallets to passport sleeves and specialised gear — tracking them has become less straightforward. Most trackers are built as small, rigid discs that assume the presence of space, loops or compartments. That assumption has created a growing mismatch between modern product design and the technology meant to secure it.
Hong Kong–based startup Bitmo Lab is attempting to address that gap with a device called MeetSticker. Instead of the solid plastic casing typical of most trackers, MeetSticker is engineered to be flexible and ultra-thin, measuring just 0.8 millimetres thick. The bendable design allows it to sit within narrow compartments or along curved surfaces without altering the shape of the object. Rather than attaching to an item externally, it is intended to integrate discreetly inside it.
That structural shift is the core of the product’s proposition. By removing the rigid shell that defines conventional tracking hardware, MeetSticker can be placed in items that previously had no practical way to accommodate a tracker. Bitmo Lab states that the device connects through a proprietary network and a companion application compatible with both iOS and Android, positioning it as a cross-platform solution rather than one tied to a single ecosystem.
The implications extend beyond form factor. Objects without obvious attachment points — such as compact travel accessories or specialised tools — could potentially be monitored without visible add-ons. In doing so, the device broadens the scope of tracking technology into categories where aesthetics, aerodynamics or compact design matter as much as functionality.
Before moving toward retail distribution, however, the company is focusing on validation. Bitmo Lab has launched a five-week global alpha testing programme beginning February 9. Sixty participants will receive a prototype unit and early access to the app. According to the company, the programme is designed to assess durability, usability and real-world performance before a wider commercial release. Participants who provide feedback will receive a retail unit upon launch.
Such testing is particularly relevant for flexible electronics. Unlike rigid devices, bendable hardware must withstand repeated flexing, daily handling and environmental exposure. Early user data can help refine manufacturing processes and software optimisation before scaling production.
As with other connected tracking devices, privacy considerations remain part of the equation. Bitmo Lab has stated that data collected during the alpha programme will be used strictly for testing purposes and deleted once the programme concludes.
Whether flexible trackers will redefine the category will depend on how they perform outside controlled testing environments. Still, the introduction of a near-invisible, bendable tracking device reflects a broader shift in consumer technology. As everyday products become thinner and more design-conscious, the tools built to protect them may need to adapt just as seamlessly.