San Francisco, California – OpenAI recently unveiled a new feature for ChatGPT, a conversational interface, showcasing a synthetic voice reminiscent of the AI assistant portrayed by Scarlett Johansson in the film “Her.” However, the excitement surrounding this new voice was short-lived as it was abruptly disabled over the weekend.
Following the sudden disabling of the new voice, actress Scarlett Johansson made a statement through her publicist, claiming that she had intervened to reverse the decision. According to Johansson, OpenAI’s CEO had approached her in September to provide the voice for ChatGPT, but she declined. Despite her refusal, Johansson was surprised to hear a demo of the new voice that closely resembled hers.
Expressing shock and disbelief, Johansson’s statement emphasized her astonishment at the similarity between the new voice and her own. The statement also referenced an incident where the CEO appeared to draw a connection between the demo and Johansson’s performance in the movie “Her.”
In response to Johansson’s concerns, OpenAI announced a pause in the use of the synthetic voice, named Sky, and clarified that it was not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson’s voice but rather that of a different actress using her natural speaking voice. The company also issued public apologies to Johansson for any misunderstandings.
The controversy with Johansson adds to OpenAI’s ongoing legal disputes with various artists and creatives over allegations of unauthorized use of copyrighted material. The company is facing multiple lawsuits, including those from The New York Times and authors like George R.R. Martin.
As advancements in generative AI technology continue to make it easier to create realistic synthetic voices, concerns about misuse and ethical implications have become more prevalent. The incident with Johansson underscores the challenges and complexities arising from the intersection of AI and creative expression.