Particle6 founder and CEO Eline van der Velden has used her keynote address at the Zurich Film Festival to launch Xicoia “the world’s first AI talent studio”.
According to van der Velden, the new studio is designed “to create, manage and monetise a new generation of hyperreal digital stars”.
Sitting alongside AI production company Particle6, Xicoia will be a separate business focused on creating talent for use in everything from film and TV productions to podcasts, TikTok, YouTube, brand campaigns and video games.
Building on a proprietary avatar personality engine, DeepFame, developed by Particle6, plus a direct fan engagement platform, Xicoia is developing a scalable portfolio of emotionally intelligent AI personas. Unlike static avatars, van der Veden said that Xicoia’s AI characters are developed with complete backstories, distinct voices, evolving narrative arcs, and fully realised personalities. They can engage in unscripted conversations, perform monologues, respond to trends in real time, and adapt tone and references to suit platform-specific audiences.
Van der Velden said: “With Xicoia, 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.”
The first character, Tilly Norwood (pictured), has soft-launched on TikTok, Instagram, and in a sketch on YouTube. Beyond its stable of AI-born talent and wholly-owned IP, Xicoia is also working with several Hollywood stars who wish to appear on screen as their younger or current selves—not just recreating likenesses but incorporating their rich, authentic personalities for them in the process. The company is also collaborating with estates to bring legendary performers back to the big screen.
The company’s mid-long-term roadmap includes scaling to more than 40 AI personas, licensing its DeepFame technology as a platform, and expanding into scripted entertainment formats, live performances, and merchandising.
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.”
