OpenAI has decided to pause the use of the ChatGPT voice called ‘Sky’ following controversy surrounding its resemblance to Scarlett Johansson’s voice in the movie ‘Her.’ The AI company acknowledged the concerns raised by the public and announced that they are working to address them by temporarily suspending the voice option.
The decision came after social media users pointed out the similarity between the ‘Sky’ voice and Johansson’s portrayal of Samantha, the AI companion in the Spike Jonze film. OpenAI stated that while the voice was not intended to mimic Johansson’s distinctive voice, they understand the importance of avoiding any resemblance to a celebrity voice in AI models.
In response to the situation, OpenAI announced the release of a new AI model, GPT-4o, and introduced a range of audio voices for ChatGPT. The company revealed that they had auditioned over 400 voice actors and partnered with five to create the voices named Breeze, Cove, Ember, Juniper, and Sky. However, the identities of the human actors behind the voices were not disclosed for privacy reasons.
It remains unclear whether Scarlett Johansson will take any legal action against OpenAI, as there has been no official statement regarding any potential infringement of her likeness or voice. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman had previously shared a tweet simply saying her, possibly referencing Johansson’s iconic performance in ‘Her.’
The controversy around AI voices resembling celebrities has sparked a broader conversation about the rights of artists and the ethical considerations involved in using their voices and likenesses without consent. With artists like Drake facing legal issues over the use of deceased artist Tupac’s voice, the debate over artists’ rights and the exploitation of their work in AI creations continues to unfold.
Despite the temporary pause on the ‘Sky’ voice, OpenAI has assured users that they are working to improve their AI models and will soon introduce a new voice mode for GPT-4o. The company aims to make voice interactions with ChatGPT more natural and user-friendly, while also considering the ethical implications of using celebrity voices in AI technology.
