Scarlett Johansson recently made waves on social media by claiming that OpenAI used her voice for their AI voiceover technology without her consent. The renowned actress shared intriguing details about her interactions with OpenAI and the surprising events that followed. Here’s the full story behind this startling revelation.
Scarlett Johansson: “OpenAI Wanted to Use My Voice”
Last week, OpenAI introduced their new GPT-4o model, featuring a voice named “Sky” that many users found strikingly similar to Scarlett Johansson’s. This led to a series of events, prompting Johansson to immediately involve her legal team and seek detailed information from OpenAI on how the voice was developed.
In her statement, Johansson revealed that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had approached her last September with a proposal to use her voice. Altman suggested that Johansson’s voice could bridge the gap between AI and humans, easing people into the transition brought by advanced technology. However, after careful consideration, Johansson declined the offer for personal reasons.
Johansson recounted, “Nine months later, I was shocked when my friends, family, and the general public pointed out how similar the new system’s voice was to mine. I suspected that Altman might have done this similarity intentionally.” This sus
OpenAI, on the other hand, stated that the voice of Sky was not Johansson’s and any resemblance was unintentional. CEO Sam Altman mentioned that they had reached out to Johansson again before launching Sky’s voice but received no response. He added, “Sky’s voice does not belong to Scarlett Johansson and was not intended to resemble hers. The actor who voiced Sky was chosen before any attempt to contact Johansson. Nonetheless, out of respect, we have decided to stop using Sky’s voice.”
During the introduction of the GPT-4o model, Sky’s voice garnered significant attention on social media for its playful and charming tone. The voice, which said lines like “Wow, what a cool outfit you’re wearing!” and “Stop, you’re making me blush,” was compared by many to Johansson’s role as the virtual assistant Samantha in the movie “Her.”
Johansson further explained, “When Sam Altman made the offer, he believed that my voice could help establish an emotional connection between technological innovations and people. However, nine months after declining the offer, I was taken aback by how much the new system’s voice resembled mine.”
OpenAI has since pledged to be more cautious in protecting personal rights within their AI systems. Johansson emphasized the need for greater transparency and legal regulation following this incident. “I believe in the protection of our identities, creations, and personhood. This calls for more transparency and appropriate legislation,” she said.
This incident highlights the blurry lines between AI technology and personal rights. Ultimately, the situation between Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI underscores the need for more effort to balance AI advancements with personal rights. It remains to be seen how this fascinating story will unfold and what measures will be taken to prevent similar situations in the future. What do you think about this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
