Actress Scarlett Johansson Claims OpenAI Used Voice Eerily Similar to Hers Without Permission
Posted by admin on 2024-05-23 |
Actor Scarlett Johansson claimed on Monday
that OpenAI used a voice for their new GPT-4o chatbot that sounded “eerily
similar” to hers, despite her rejecting the company’s request to use her voice.
SAG-AFTRA, an influential body representing
television and radio artists, on Tuesday backed Scarlett Johansson after the
American actress raised concerns over the voice feature of a new OpenAI system
that she said sounded “eerily similar” to her own.
Last week, OpenAI launched its latest AI
model, GPT-4o, featuring an audio-interacting persona named “Sky”.
Johansson’s Decision to Decline
Johansson stated that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
reached out to her last September about voicing ChatGPT. “He expressed that
having my voice for the system could bridge the gap between tech companies and
creatives and help consumers feel at ease with the major changes concerning
humans and AI,” her statement read. “After careful thought and for personal
reasons, I turned down the offer.”
Johansson's Allegations
“Nine months later, my friends, family and
the general public all noted how much the newest system named ‘Sky’ sounded
like me.” She said.
Reports indicate that Johansson was stunned
when she heard Sky’s voice. “It sounded so eerily similar to mine that even my
closest friends and news outlets couldn’t distinguish the difference,” she
said. The actor was “shocked, angered, and in disbelief.”
Response from OpenAI
In response to a request for comment, OpenAI
CEO Sam Altman said in a written statement via a spokesperson that Sky’s voice
was not intended to resemble Johansson’s and was chosen before contacting her.
“The voice of Sky is not Scarlett Johansson’s,
and it was never intended to sound like hers,” he said. “We selected the voice
actor behind Sky’s voice prior to any outreach to Ms. Johansson. Out of respect
for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products. We
apologize to Ms. Johansson for not communicating better.”
SAG-AFTRA’s Advocacy
SAG-AFTRA said it was “strongly championing
federal legislation that would protect their voices and likenesses” and will
continue engaging with OpenAI and other stakeholders “to enshrine transparent
and resilient protections for all of us.”
