Eline van der Velden’s Xicoia aims to launch digital stars and is in talks with Hollywood actors to recreate personas on screen

Tilly Norwood

Particle6 AI talent Tilly Norwood

Particle6 founder and chief exec Eline van der Velden has unveiled what’s been described as “the world’s first AI talent studio”, designed to create, manage and monetise future digital stars.

Xicoia will sit alongside production outfit Particle6 but be a separate entity that focuses creating digital talent via AI.

The talent will then be placed across all media, from film and TV productions to podcasts, TikTok, YouTube, brand campaigns and video games.

Tilly Norwood 2

Tilly Norwood

The business will use Particle6’s proprietary avatar personality engine named DeepFame, plus a direct fan engagement platform, to create the AI talent.

Each star will have “emotionally intelligent AI personas”, according to Xicoia, and are being developed with complete backstories, distinct voices, evolving narrative arcs, and fully realised personalities.

Xicoia’s launch comes two months after Broadcast International broke news that Particle 6 was launching AI creation Tilly Norwood with a view to developing her into a fully-fledged digital talent.

Eline van der Velden, founder and chief exec at Xicoia, said: “We’re creating the first studio where AI-driven talent isn’t just a gimmick — it’s living, performing IP with depth, humour, and narrative arcs.

“We believe the next generation of cultural icons will be synthetic: stars that never tire, never age, and can interact with fans. But just like the best entertainment companies, the key isn’t the technology - it’s the storytelling and the people behind those stories.”

Xicoia aims to create around 40 AI personas and said it is also working with several Hollywood stars who wish to appear on screen as their younger or current selves, as well as collaborating with estates to bring performers back to the big screen.

Van der Velden added: “We’re standing at the dawn of a new category—AI-powered celebrity IP. Xicoia’s mission is to shape it, own it, and set the creative standard. Just as the 20th century was defined by the rise of film stars and pop icons, we believe the 21st will be defined by synthetic talent.”

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