The recent drama surrounding OpenAI, a prominent company in the artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology sector, has been making waves in the media. From actress Scarlett Johansson’s public statement expressing her dismay over the unauthorized use of a voice similar to hers in OpenAI’s new chatbot feature, to a series of resignations by top executives, the company is facing intense scrutiny and backlash.
Johansson’s outrage was sparked by the unveiling of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot that featured a voice that she found strikingly similar to her own. This controversy came on the heels of a mass exodus of executives, including founding member Andrej Karpathy, VP of people Diane Yoon, and head of nonprofit and strategic initiatives Chris Clark, further escalating tensions within the company.
The departure of CEO Sam Altman, who was removed from his position due to lack of transparency with the board, only added fuel to the fire. However, after facing backlash from employees and the AI community, Altman was reinstated to his role. The company’s Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever also announced his resignation, citing concerns over the rapid advancement of OpenAI’s AI technology.
The latest AI model released by OpenAI, GPT-4o, introduced a new chatbot feature called Sky, whose voice bore a striking resemblance to Johansson’s. The actress, in response, hired legal counsel to demand an explanation from OpenAI, emphasizing the importance of protecting one’s likeness and identity in the age of deepfakes.
OpenAI has since clarified that the voice behind Sky was cast before any contact with Johansson, apologizing for the lack of communication. The company revealed that multiple voice actors were used to create the voices for its AI products.
The controversy surrounding OpenAI’s latest developments reflects a larger issue within the tech industry, highlighting the complexities of AI ethics and the importance of transparency and communication in AI development. As the company navigates through these challenges, the future of OpenAI and its place in the AI landscape remains uncertain.
