Scarlett Johansson Expresses Shock and Anger Over ChatGPT’s “Sky” Voice
Actress Scarlett Johansson recently expressed her shock and anger upon hearing the voice of ChatGPT’s “Sky,” which some people had likened to her own voice. Johansson, known for voicing a fictional digital assistant in the film Her, released a statement expressing her feelings about the similarities between Sky’s voice and her own. She mentioned that she had received an offer from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to voice Sky but declined it. Altman believed that Johansson’s voice could bridge the gap between tech companies and creatives and make consumers feel more comfortable with the advancements in AI technology.
OpenAI Claims Sky’s Voice Is Not an Imitation of Scarlett Johansson’s
Before Johansson made her statement, OpenAI had claimed that they did not deliberately mimic Scarlett Johansson’s voice for Sky. They stated that Sky’s voice belonged to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice. However, OpenAI acknowledged the questions raised about the selection process for ChatGPT’s voices, particularly Sky’s, and announced that they would temporarily stop using Sky until they addressed these concerns.
Scarlett Johansson Feels the Voice Is Eerily Similar to Hers
Scarlett Johansson expressed her shock, anger, and disbelief at the similarities between Sky’s voice and her own. She stated that even her closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference. Johansson revealed that Altman had contacted her agent two days before the demo release, urging her to reconsider his offer. She hired legal counsel after they did not connect before the system debuted. Following her counsel’s request for more information about how Sky was created, OpenAI reluctantly agreed to pause the use of the Sky voice.
Johansson Calls for Clarity and Legislation to Protect Individual Rights
In light of the advancements in deepfake technology and the protection of one’s likeness, work, and identity, Scarlett Johansson emphasized the need for clarity and legislation. She believes that these questions deserve absolute clarity, and she looks forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to protect individual rights.
OpenAI Apologizes to Johansson and Pauses Use of Sky’s Voice
In response to Scarlett Johansson’s concerns, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized for the misunderstanding. He clarified that Sky’s voice was not intended to resemble Johansson’s and that they had cast the voice actor for Sky before reaching out to her. Out of respect for Johansson, OpenAI agreed to pause the use of Sky’s voice in their products.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding ChatGPT’s “Sky” voice and its resemblance to Scarlett Johansson highlights the challenges of using AI voices and the importance of protecting individual rights. While OpenAI claims that Sky’s voice is not an imitation of Johansson’s, her shock and anger at the similarities cannot be ignored. The incident calls for greater transparency in the creation and selection of AI voices, as well as the need for legislation to safeguard individuals from unauthorized use of their likeness. OpenAI’s decision to pause the use of Sky’s voice demonstrates their willingness to address these concerns and work towards a resolution that respects both technology and individual rights.