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The renowned actress, Scarlett Johansson, has communicated her deep shock and anger after finding out that OpenAI supposedly replicated her unique voice for a ChatGPT variant, seemingly without her permission.
In a public statement, Johansson addressed OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman directly, expressing her disapproval of his indirect implication that she endorsed the voice named ‘Sky’. Altman’s evocative use of the term ‘her’ on Twitter, she points out, refers back to a motion picture in which Johansson provided the voice for an AI system.
“Last September, Altman approached me with a proposal to lend my voice to ChatGPT 4.0, suggesting it could help humanize the burgeoning AI space,” Johansson, a 39-year-old Academy Award nominee, recounted.
The actress detailed her reasons for declining the initial offer and shared her astonishment upon later discovering the uncanny resemblance of the ‘Sky’ voice to her own, a fact noticed by close acquaintances and media alike.
“Imagine my shock and frustration upon realizing Altman disregarded my refusal and still moved forward with a voice that my own circle misidentifies as me,” she stated.
Johansson disclosed the extent of her dismay when she observed Altman’s Twitter activity, hinting at the intentional mimicry related to her prior role. She also highlighted the hasty release of the ChatGPT 4.0 system before a consensus was reached.
Following OpenAI’s actions, the actress was compelled to seek legal advice and challenged the company to explain the creation process of the ‘Sky’ voice. In response, OpenAI agreed to remove the controversial voice feature.
Johansson emphasized her concerns over rights to one’s own voice and identity, especially in an age where deepfakes blur the lines of authenticity, calling for transparency and legal safeguards to maintain personal rights.
OpenAI made the decision to “pause” the use of the ChatGPT voice that bore Johansson’s semblance after receiving a wave of inquiries. The AI enterprise emphasized that their choices in ChatGPT’s voices, particularly ‘Sky’, are being reconsidered amidst the controversy.
The AI firm offers a selection of five voices that interact with users through ChatGPT, clarifying their stance on the importance of differentiating AI voices from recognizable celebrity voices.
The legal scenario intensified when The New York Times pursued litigation against OpenAI, spurred by allegations of unlawfully employing the newspaper’s publications in training ChatGPT, which now competes with the media outlet in providing reliable information.
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FAQs about Scarlett Johansson’s Dispute with OpenAI
- Did OpenAI intentionally copy Scarlett Johansson’s voice? – OpenAI has stated that they did not deliberately mimic Johansson’s voice and their intent was not to replicate a celebrity’s voice.
- What was Sam Altman’s reference to ‘her’ about? – Altman’s tweet with the word ‘her’ is believed to refer to a film where Johansson’s voice was used for an AI system, hinting at the similarity between the movie’s AI voice and the ‘Sky’ ChatGPT feature.
- How has OpenAI responded to the issue? – OpenAI has decided to pause the use of the ‘Sky’ voice amid the controversy and is reassessing their process of selecting voices for their chatbots.
- Has Scarlett Johansson taken legal action? – Yes, Johansson has engaged legal counsel to address the matter and to demand transparency on how the ‘Sky’ voice was developed.
Conclusion
Scarlett Johansson’s dispute with OpenAI over the alleged unauthorized replication of her voice raises important questions about the ethics of AI and the protection of individual identity in the digital age. As artificial intelligence continues to become more lifelike and integrated into various aspects of our lives, the call for clear legislation and safeguards to protect personal likeness becomes increasingly important. This incident serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing dialogue needed between technology innovators and the broader community to ensure respect for personal and intellectual property rights.
