In a recent turn of events, OpenAI has found itself in the midst of a crisis regarding the use of Scarlett Johansson’s voice for their latest ChatGPT model.
The controversy began when social media users pointed out the striking resemblance between the voice of Sky, one of the chatbot’s options, and that of the famous actress. Speculation grew even further when Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, made a reference to the movie Her, in which Scarlett Johansson plays an AI character.
To address the growing concerns, OpenAI decided to temporarily pause the voice of Sky and clarify that the similarity was unintentional. The company’s CTO, Mira Murati, emphasized that the voice selection process involved over 400 auditions and that Sky was performed by a different professional actress whose identity remains confidential. The five voices in ChatGPT-4o, including Sky, were chosen for their ability to convey a timeless, accessible, and trustworthy tone.
While OpenAI has not confirmed if Sky will be reinstated, they have assured users that more voice options will be introduced in the future to cater to diverse preferences. The decision to pause Sky reflects OpenAI’s cautious approach to potential conflicts with public figures and the importance of maintaining a positive public image.
As the debate around the ethics of AI and voice imitation continues, OpenAI remains committed to enhancing user experience and ensuring a seamless interaction with their chatbot technology. Users can expect further developments in ChatGPT’s voice options as OpenAI strives to meet the evolving needs of its audience.
