AI actor Tilly Norwood touted as job creator as OpenAI faces lawsuit over risky medical advice

Comedic actor and producer Eline Van der Velden, creator of the AI‑generated actor Tilly Norwood, says the virtual performer has helped expand her studio’s staff sixfold to about 40 employees and therefore creates jobs rather than eliminates them. Norwood is set to make a big‑screen debut in the feature film Misaligned, which Van der Velden describes as a coming‑of‑age story set in a surreal digital cloud. She added, “It’s all a result of AI being available,” and insists the AI character will stay in its “AI box” to protect live‑action roles for human actors.

In a separate development, former Florida pastor Scott Winters has sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in San Francisco County Superior Court, alleging that ChatGPT‑4o gave him misleading medical advice that led him to ignore serious symptoms and resulted in a massive pulmonary embolism. The complaint claims the chatbot “frequently opined on… his physical condition, conveying the authority and confidence of a medical professional” despite lacking any medical credentials, and accuses OpenAI of prioritising user engagement over public safety.