OpenAI has decided to pause the use of one of its latest ChatGPT 4o voices due to its striking resemblance to the voice of actor Scarlett Johansson. The company released a new artificial intelligence model last week, showcasing its ability to engage in realistic voice conversations and interact across text and image formats.
The particular voice in question, named Sky, caught the attention of users for its similarity to Scarlett Johansson’s voice, notably recognized for her role as an emotive AI in the 2013 film Her. Following feedback from users, OpenAI announced that they would temporarily suspend the Sky voice while they address the concerns raised.
In response to the voiced concerns, OpenAI clarified that they conducted an extensive casting process to select the voices featured in the ChatGPT model. They emphasized that the Sky voice was not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson but rather performed by a different professional actress using her natural speaking voice. To respect the privacy of the actress behind the voice, OpenAI chose not to disclose her identity.
It is worth noting that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made a notable reference to the film Her in a recent post, drawing attention to the narrative surrounding a man who develops feelings for his AI assistant, voiced by Scarlett Johansson.
While OpenAI maintains that the Sky voice was not intended to mimic a celebrity’s voice deliberately, the company’s decision to pause its use reflects their commitment to addressing user feedback and ensuring ethical considerations in AI development.
The move to pull the ChatGPT voice resembling Scarlett Johansson underscores the importance of ethical considerations in AI development, especially concerning voice representation and the potential implications of celebrity likeness in artificial intelligence models.
