‘Wicked’ Star’s New Film Prompts Backlash [Video]

An upcoming film starring Wicked actor Jonathan Bailey has caused controversy online by claiming to use an AI host in a series of TikTok videos.

In November a shopping channel called 4QTV launched on the video-sharing platform with a presenter named Hayley, who announced itself as “the UK’s First AI TV shopping channel host.” The faceless host, who only communicated through a speaker, said it “beat six human candidates to get this job.”

The TikTok account racked up over half a million views in just over a week and caused controversy, with many commenters asking for it to be canceled as it was championing the use of AI to replace humans and plugging pointless products. However, those who have created the TikTok page have said that this pushback is exactly what they wanted.

Award-nominated writer and director, Alastair Siddons, revealed the launch of 4QTV was actually a tool to highlight over-consumerism.

It was also part of …