Washington, D.C. (AP) – OpenAI made the decision to remove the voice named “Sky” from their ChatGPT program following criticism regarding its resemblance to an AI program portrayed by Scarlett Johansson. This move came after users expressed concerns over the similarities between Sky’s vocal characteristics and those of the AI operating system in the movie “Her.”
The parent company of ChatGPT introduced five different voices for the program, which included the exclusive voice of Sky for premium subscribers. These voices allowed users to interact with the chatbot through vocalized answers, bringing a new dimension to their conversations beyond text.
Amidst public scrutiny, OpenAI released a statement explaining the rigorous process involved in selecting the voice actors for ChatGPT’s voices, including Breeze, Cove, Ember, Juniper, and Sky. The company emphasized that these voices were carefully chosen to reflect unique personalities and appeal to a global audience.
While OpenAI denied intentionally mimicking Scarlett Johansson’s voice with Sky, they ultimately decided to remove it from the program. This decision coincided with resignations from key members of the safety team, with former employee Leike raising concerns about the company’s focus on product development over the potential risks associated with advanced AI technologies.
Leike highlighted the inherent dangers of creating machines smarter than humans and criticized the company for prioritizing the production of visually appealing products at the expense of robust safety protocols. This debate underscores the ongoing challenges faced by companies seeking to balance innovation with ethical considerations in the development of AI technologies.