Scarlett Johansson is shocked over OpenAI's AI voice

OpenAI has paused the use of Sky, an AI voice, for its ChatGPT chatbot. Many have observed that the voice sounded extremely similar to star Scarlett Johansson, who previously performed a fictitious AI chatbot, Samantha, in the 2013 film Her. However, the company's announcement today stated that "Sky's voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson."

As it turns out, OpenAI may not have been totally honest about the situation. Johansson sent a lengthy statement to NPR's Bobby Allyn, who posted it on his X account. In summary, Johansson claims there is a relationship between the actor and OpenAI, and not in a positive manner.

Johansson revealed that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had requested her to record her voice for the ChatGPT AI chatbot in September 2023. She chose to decline his invitation for unspecified personal reasons. Last week's ChatGPT-4o demo featured a voice that sounded similar to Johansson's from the smartphone. Johansson's statement read:

When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference. Mr. Altman even insinuated that the similarity was intentional, tweeting a single word "her" - a reference to the film in which | voiced a chat system, Samantha, who forms an intimate relationship with a human.

She further claims that two days prior to the demo, OpenAI apparently contacted her agent and asked her to reconsider Altman's original offer. The ChatGPT-4o demo went live before the agency could answer.

Johansson stated that her lawyers then contacted OpenAI and Altman to inquire about how the voice for the Sky soundalike was developed. Only then did OpenAI decide to "pause" Sky's voice.

Her statement concluded by saying:

In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity. I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected.