Scarlett Johansson blasted OpenAI for allegedly using a digital replica of her voice to power its latest AI voice assistant in ChatGPT, "Sky."
In a statement via CNBC News on Monday, Johansson slammed OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman for using a "voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine" without her authorization.
According to Johannson, Altman contacted her last September to potentially voice one of its systems but declined "after much consideration and for personal reasons."
Altman reportedly contacted her agent again two days before the release of the AI voice to reconsider, an offer Johansson was not able to answer yet.
It was to her shock to still find her voice following the release of the ChatGPT AI voices, particularly in the voice assistant "Sky."
OpenAI Defends 'Sky' from Allegations
"Sky" was one of the five AI voices OpenAI showcased during its release of GPT-4o, in which "Sky" was used to
Many viewers of the showcase stream quickly noticed similarities between Johansson's voice and "Sky."
It did not help that Altman seemingly referenced the actress, or at least the sci-fi film "Her" where she starred as the leading actress, days before the demo.
her
— Sam Altman (@sama) May 13, 2024
In response to accusations, OpenAI maintained that the AI voice was not an imitation of Johansson's likeness but belonged to a "different professional actress" it cannot share with the public to "protect their privacy."
OpenAI claimed that the selection for the voice took place five months before its release last week, a contrast to Johansson's claim that Altman personally contacted her nine months prior.
Microsoft, OpenAI's biggest backer, has already paused "Sky" following Johansson's letter to them.
We’ve heard questions about how we chose the voices in ChatGPT, especially Sky. We are working to pause the use of Sky while we address them.
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 20, 2024
Read more about how we chose these voices: https://t.co/R8wwZjU36L
Celebrities Grapple with AI Advent in Hollywood
Johansson is not the only celebrity grappling with deepfakes and digital replicas as AI technology continues to seep into the entertainment industry.
More than 200 music artists have earlier signed a petition to emphasize the "enormous threats" the "predatory" AI poses to their privacy and their teams' livelihood as the technology continues to be used "irresponsibly."
It is worth noting that part of the agreement in last year's Hollywood actors' strike was better protection against the harmful impacts of AI, a problem the industry continues to experience.
Similar problems are expected to arise in the future as OpenAI moves to cater its technology to Hollywood executives.
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