The Future of Acting: AI Actors on Set

We started proposing ideas about how we felt AI was poised to alter the acting industry some time before the "Tilly Norwood backlash." A lot has happened since then, so I thought it was worth sharing some updates on how the industry is evolving.

CBS recently did a piece on AI acting: CBS YouTube feature

A few key points were made:

• Tilly Norwood's creator, Eline Van der Velden, clarified that her intention was not to create a direct competitor to "Scarlett Johnson," but rather the "Scarlett Johnson of the AI-acting world." In her view, AI acting and real acting can co-exist and are not in direct competition.
• Sean Austin, president of SAG-AFTRA, spoke strongly against big tech training on performative work without compensation or permission. He also expressed doubt that AI will be able to replace "real human" performances.

A film director on Instagram who has popularised the weekly "Will AI replace us?" reels (Instagram post) often frames his content to show how far certain AI outputs still appear from replacing real performances.

However, at least in my view, many of these discussions hide some of the realities.

Realities

AI-performative videos are already being used to replace actors in commercial work—particularly in India—and this will continue and accelerate into 2025.

Floating Tiger Films have a series on Instagram showcasing the content they produce (primarily for Indian companies) on brief: Instagram showcase

Yes, there's a lot of "AI-slop" out there; but there's also AI-content that is incredibly compelling. A recent piece I came across was particularly striking: YouTube example

AI content is not going anywhere, and I feel strongly that we are in the very early stages of what will become the norm. Most AI adverts will be AI-generated or at least "AI-influenced" in some capacity.

Opportunities for actors

With all that said, little attention has been paid to the opportunities AI might create for actors. Tools like Runway Act-2 and Wan Animate allow real performance videos to drive the AI outputs, providing a close reflection of the original inputs while giving freedom to change the avatars.

A recent post by AI filmmaker Schlecky Silberstein captures a strong example of this in action: LinkedIn post

Some actors may choose to experiment with these tools; and I have no doubt that there will be a few in the not so distant future who build highly compelling—and previously incredibly expensive—short & long-form videos that use a hybrid of AI tools and real performative footage. Those that figure out how to capture an audience and monetise that attention may be able to forge entirely new acting career pathways.

These are speculations; no one knows for sure. I'm open-minded, and I think it's an important exercise to build frameworks for viewing the technology in terms of how the acting community can actively use it to their benefit, rather than hoping the technology will naturally evolve in a way that benefits actors.

See also

• How Actors Will Benefit from AI
• Will AI Replace Actors?
• Hollywood Already Uses Generative AI

FAQ

Are AI actors replacing real actors?

In some commercial contexts—particularly lower-budget advertising—AI-generated performers are already being used. However, for narrative film and television, real human performances remain the standard.

What is Runway Act-2?

Runway Act-2 is an AI tool that uses real video footage of a performance to drive AI-generated outputs. This means an actor's expressions and movements can be mapped onto different digital avatars while retaining the nuance of the original performance.

Can actors benefit from AI filmmaking tools?

Yes. Some actors are beginning to use AI tools to create their own content—short films, reels, and experimental projects—that would previously have required large budgets. This could open new career pathways for entrepreneurial performers.

What is SAG-AFTRA's position on AI?

SAG-AFTRA has spoken out against AI training on performative work without consent or compensation. The union continues to advocate for protections that ensure actors retain control over how their likeness and performances are used.