Scarlett Johansson recently made headlines after revealing that she turned down an offer from OpenAI to voice their latest artificial intelligence system, 'Sky,' due to concerns over the voice's striking similarity to her own.
In a statement to Page Six, Johansson disclosed that she received the offer from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in September 2023. Altman believed that Johansson's voice could help bridge the gap between tech companies and creatives, making consumers more comfortable with the evolving landscape of human-AI interactions. Despite the potential impact of her involvement, Johansson ultimately declined the offer for personal reasons.
Following a live demonstration of the 'Sky' voice by OpenAI, Johansson was taken aback by the uncanny resemblance to her own voice. Many individuals, including her friends, family, and the general public, noted the striking similarity between 'Sky' and Johansson's voice, drawing comparisons to her portrayal in the film 'Her.'
Expressing shock and disbelief, Johansson revealed that OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, had even hinted at the intentional nature of the voice similarity. Despite attempts by Altman to persuade her to reconsider the offer, the release of the 'Sky' demo prompted Johansson to seek legal counsel.
Subsequently, Johansson's legal team sent letters to OpenAI requesting details on the voice creation process, leading to the removal of the 'Sky' voice by the organization. Johansson emphasized the importance of transparency and legislation to protect individual rights in the face of emerging technologies like deepfakes.
In response to the controversy, OpenAI announced a pause in the use of the 'Sky' voice while addressing concerns about voice selection in their ChatGPT system. The organization clarified that the voice belonged to a different professional actress using her natural speaking voice, refraining from disclosing her identity to safeguard her privacy.
As discussions around AI ethics and the protection of personal likeness continue to evolve, Johansson's experience sheds light on the complexities of voice replication and the need for clear guidelines in the digital landscape.
Stay tuned for further developments as the conversation on AI ethics and individual rights unfolds.
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