The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has sparked numerous discussions regarding the potential harm it could cause to human beings. This emerging technology, if misused, can present problems for individuals, as evidenced by various incidents in the past. For instance, there have been cases where writers collectively sued OpenAI for training ChatGPT on their books without obtaining permission. Additionally, actors have raised concerns about AI companies using their likeness for marketing purposes.
These instances have prompted many people to express their worries about the unethical utilization of AI. Recently, Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson has garnered attention for taking legal action against ChatGPT. According to a statement obtained by NBC News, Johansson claims that ChatGPT 4o’s Sky voice closely resembles her own. She further disclosed that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had initially approached her to provide the voice for ChatGPT, but she declined the offer.
Here are the key details of the story, summarized in five points.
- Scarlett Johansson disclosed on Monday that OpenAI utilized a voice that bore a striking resemblance to hers for their ChatGPT 4o chatbot, despite her refusal to provide her voice. Johansson mentioned that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman approached her last September, believing that her voice could serve as a bridge between technology and the general public.
- Nine months later, Johansson’s friends and family noticed the uncanny similarity between her voice and that of ChatGPT 4o’s “Sky.” OpenAI had recently launched ChatGPT 4o, showcasing its new voice chat capabilities, which included five distinct voices, one of them being Sky.
- Upon hearing the demo, Johansson expressed her shock and disbelief, prompting her to seek legal advice. Her legal team contacted OpenAI to request information regarding the development process of the “Sky” voice. Subsequently, OpenAI agreed to discontinue the use of the “Sky” voice. Johansson stated, “When I listened to the released demo, I was shocked, angered, and disbelieving that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that closely resembled mine to the extent that even my closest friends and media outlets couldn’t differentiate.”
- Johansson also emphasized the significance of transparency and safeguarding individual rights in the era of deepfakes and AI. She called for appropriate legislation to protect personal identities and ensure ethical practices in the utilization of AI technologies.
- In response to Johansson’s remarks, Altman informed NBC News that Sky’s voice was not a copy of Johansson’s voice. He clarified that the voice was recorded by a professional actor, whose identity could not be revealed due to privacy concerns. Altman stated, “We selected the voice actor for Sky before reaching out to Ms. Johansson. As a sign of respect to Ms. Johansson, we have halted the use of Sky’s voice in our products. We apologize to Ms. Johansson for our lack of effective communication.”