Scarlett Johansson recently raised concerns about an unauthorized ChatGPT voice that closely resembled her own, leading to a dispute with OpenAI. The acclaimed actress reportedly took legal action against the tech company, demanding the removal of the voice, named ‘Sky,’ from the ChatGPT system.
According to reports, OpenAI initially approached Johansson for the opportunity to use her voice in ChatGPT 4.0, but she declined the offer. Months later, the actress noticed striking similarities between ‘Sky’ and her voice, prompting her to take action. Johansson’s legal counsel sent two letters to OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, questioning the creation of the ‘Sky’ voice and requested an explanation.
In response to Johansson’s complaints, OpenAI decided to replace the controversial voice with a new one called Juniper. CEO Sam Altman clarified that the intention was never to mimic Scarlett Johansson’s voice and apologized for the misunderstanding. He admitted that the company should have communicated better with the actress throughout the process.
Johansson emphasized the broader implications of the incident, expressing concerns about deepfake technology and the protection of individuals’ identities and rights. She called for more transparency and legal safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of likeness and voice.
The dispute between Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding voice replication technology and the importance of ethical practices in artificial intelligence development. It highlights the need for clear guidelines and regulations to safeguard against potential misuse and infringement on individual rights.
