Actor Scarlett Johansson recently revealed that OpenAI used a voice similar to hers for their new ChatGPT 4o chatbot, despite her declining their request to provide her voice. OpenAI announced that they would no longer be using the voice, but did not give a reason for this decision. Johansson received an offer from Sam Altman to voice ChatGPT 4.0 last September but declined the offer for personal reasons. The new system named “Sky” quickly drew comparisons to her voice, leading to controversy.
OpenAI stated that the “Sky” voice was not an imitation of Johansson’s voice, but was recorded by a professional actor along with other voices. The company did not disclose the actors’ names for privacy reasons. The voice chat feature was promoted during a product demonstration in May, but had been available since September 2023. Johansson expressed shock and anger upon hearing the voice that closely resembled hers, leading her to hire legal counsel to address the situation. Altman responded by stating that the voice of “Sky” was not meant to sound like Johansson’s and was chosen before reaching out to her.
The use of voice imitation technology has raised concerns around disinformation, with people using software to imitate celebrities and personalities for various purposes. This technology has been exploited to mislead individuals and promote scams. In a similar incident, Johansson took action against an AI company for using her likeness in an advertisement featuring AI-generated images of her. There have also been concerns about OpenAI’s methodologies and approach to developing AI technology, particularly regarding the risks associated with AI. The company recently disbanded a team focused on long-term AI risks, leading to some key figures leaving the company.
Johansson highlighted the importance of protecting individual rights in the face of deepfakes and the misuse of personal likeness. She called for transparency and new legislation to address these issues. Altman expressed regret for not communicating better with Johansson and stated that the voice of “Sky” was not intended to resemble hers. Despite the controversy, OpenAI remains focused on developing innovative AI technology and addressing concerns around the misuse of AI-generated content. The incident involving Johansson’s voice underscores the need for vigilance in protecting individual rights in the digital age.
