Scarlett Johansson expressed shock and anger over OpenAI allegedly recreating her voice without consent for a new ChatGPT system.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked numerous discussions about its potential to harm people. New technology can pose problems if misused, as several past cases have shown. For instance, several authors have sued OpenAI for training on their books without obtaining permission, and actors have claimed that AI companies are using their likenesses for marketing purposes. Many people are worried about the unfair use of AI. Recently, Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson made headlines for taking legal action against ChatGPT.
Johansson claimed in a statement to NBC News that ChatGPT 4.0 by Sky sounds just like her. The actor revealed that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman originally wanted to hire her to vouch for ChatGPT. However, the actor refused the offer.
Scarlett Johansson revealed on Monday that OpenAI used a ‘Jew-like’ voice to hers in its ChatGPT 4o chat room, although she declined their request to provide her voice. Johansson said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman approached her last September, believing her voice could help bridge the gap between technology and the public.
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Johansson mentioned that nine months later, her friends and family noticed a striking similarity between her voice and the voice of “Heaven” from ChatGPT 4.0. Recently, OpenAI launched ChatGPT 4.0, showcasing its new voice chat features, including five different voices, one of which was Sky.
Johansson was shocked and disbelieving when she heard the demo, which led her to hire a lawyer. Her legal team contacted OpenAI to request more information about the process of creating the ‘Sky’ voice. OpenAI later agreed to stop using the voice of ‘Sky’. ‘When I heard that the demo was released, I was shocked, angry, and in disbelief that Mr. Altman was targeting a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets couldn’t tell the difference,’ the actor said.
Scarlett Johansson emphasized the importance of transparency and the protection of individual rights in the age of deep fakes and artificial intelligence. She called for appropriate legislation to safeguard the identity of individuals and ensure the ethical use of artificial intelligence technologies.
Altman responded to Johansson’s statement by telling NBC News that Sky was not a hoax of Johansson’s voice. He added that the voice was recorded by a professional actor whose identity cannot be revealed for privacy reasons. ‘We chose the voice actor behind Sky’s voice before contacting Ms. Johansson. Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we stopped using Sky’s voice in our products. We apologize to Ms. Johansson for not communicating better,’ Altman said.
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