Scarlett Johansson takes legal action against OpenAI over ChatGPT voice Sky, says “eerily similar”

Scarlett Johansson has accused OpenAI of using her voice without consent in their ChatGPT 4.0 system. The controversy has led to legal action, raising concerns about the use of celebrity voices and likeness in AI technology. This article delves into the latest news, context, and implications of this dispute.

Scarlett Johansson clashes with OpenAI’s Sam Altman

OpenAI announced that it will temporarily suspend the use of the AI voice known as Sky. This decision follows public outcry from Scarlett Johansson, who claims the voice sounds eerily similar to hers. Johansson has hired legal counsel and sent letters to OpenAI, demanding transparency about how the ChatGPT voice was created.

In a statement shared with The Verge, Johansson expressed shock and disbelief at the similarity. "When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered, and in disbelief," Johansson said.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had initially approached her to voice the ChatGPT 4.0 system, which she declined. Despite this, the company released a voice that Johansson claims is indistinguishable from hers.

Incidentally, on May 13, a day before the launch of ChatGPT 4.0, Altman shared a post on X with the single word “her.” This was a reference to Johansson’s role in the 2013 movie "Her," where she voiced an AI assistant.

Context and Background

The dispute began last September when Altman offered Johansson the role of voicing the ChatGPT system. Altman believed her voice could bridge the gap between tech and creatives, providing comfort to users amid AI advancements. Johansson declined for personal reasons, but nine months later, the Sky voice emerged, sounding remarkably like her.

The controversy gained traction after OpenAI demoed the updated AI voice, making it more expressive. This led to comparisons with Johansson’s character in "Her," culminating in media headlines and a Saturday Night Live joke.

Johansson’s Concerns as She Takes Legal Action

Johansson’s primary concern revolves around the unauthorized use of her voice and likeness. She was particularly disturbed by the timing of Altman’s request and the subsequent release of the ChatGPT 4.0 demo. Johansson has demanded OpenAI disclose the process used to create the Sky voice.

"As a result of their actions, I was forced to hire legal counsel, who wrote two letters to Mr. Altman and OpenAI, setting out what they had done and asking them to detail the exact process by which they created the 'Sky' voice," Johansson told The Verge.

She believes this issue highlights broader questions about deepfakes and the protection of individual rights in the digital age.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Responds

In response to Johansson's claims, Altman clarified in a statement to The Verge, “The voice of Sky is not Scarlett Johansson’s, and it was never intended to resemble hers. We cast the voice actor behind Sky’s voice before any outreach to Ms. Johansson.”

The company has declined to reveal the actress's name for privacy reasons. OpenAI has paused using Sky's voice to address the concerns raised by Johansson. Altman further stated, “Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products. We are sorry to Ms. Johansson that we didn’t communicate better.”

Implications for the General Audience

As deepfakes and AI-generated content become more prevalent, protecting individual rights and ensuring ethical practices in AI development is crucial.

In her statement to The Verge, Johansson said, “In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity. I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected.”

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