OpenAI CEO Sam Altman clarified that the voice used for the ChatGPT system, known as ‘Sky,’ was not intended to imitate Scarlett Johansson’s voice. Altman stated that Sky’s voice actually belonged to a different professional actress. “The voice of Sky is not Scarlett Johansson’s, and it was never intended to resemble hers. We cast the voice actor behind Sky’s voice before any outreach to Ms. Johansson,” Altman explained. “Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products. We apologize to Ms. Johansson for any misunderstanding and regret not communicating better.”
The Hollywood landscape is witnessing a surge in discussions surrounding the rights to actors’ voices and likenesses, especially as studios explore the use of AI in entertainment creation. As computer-generated images and sounds increasingly resemble human counterparts, the issue of ownership becomes more complex.
Scarlett Johansson recently voiced her concerns in a statement, revealing that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had approached her last September with an offer to voice a ChatGPT system, an offer she declined. Despite this, she expressed shock and frustration upon discovering that the AI system ‘Sky’ bore a striking resemblance to her voice. Johansson emphasized her dismay, highlighting instances where even her closest associates struggled to differentiate between her voice and Sky’s. She also noted Altman’s insinuation of intentional similarity, referencing a tweet about her portrayal in the 2013 movie “Her.”
Johansson’s statement, shared with journalists from NPR and Reuters by her publicist, also mentioned her engagement of legal counsel to address the matter.
Meanwhile, OpenAI unveiled its latest AI model, GPT-4o, boasting advanced audio capabilities that facilitate real-time conversations with users, marking a significant leap in the development of lifelike AI interactions.