Scarlett Johansson has accused OpenAI of using a voice similar to hers in their ChatGPT system, despite her refusal to provide the official voice. The controversy emerged when OpenAI introduced a voice named Sky during a demo of GPT-4o, which many believed sounded uncannily like Johansson. This led to Johansson’s lawyers demanding the removal of the Sky voice.
OpenAI initially insisted that the voice was not based on Johansson’s, but eventually agreed to pause its use out of respect for the actress. Johansson expressed shock and anger at the situation, calling for clearer legislation to protect individuals from having their likeness misappropriated in the age of deepfakes and AI voice technology.
The actress revealed that OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, had approached her in September 2023 to voice the ChatGPT 4.0 system, an offer she declined for personal reasons. Johansson’s statement emphasized the need for transparency and appropriate legislation to safeguard individual rights in the face of advancing technology.
While OpenAI maintained that the Sky voice was chosen before contacting Johansson, the situation escalated when a joke on Saturday Night Live referenced the similarity between Sky’s voice and Johansson’s, poking fun at her husband, Colin Jost.
In response to the situation, Johansson hired legal counsel to address the issue with OpenAI, resulting in the removal of the Sky voice from the system. The incident underscores the growing concerns surrounding deepfakes and the protection of personal identity and work in the evolving technological landscape.
Overall, the dispute between Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity, transparency, and legal safeguards in an era characterized by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and voice technology.
