Scarlett Johansson Expresses Concern Over Alleged AI Voice Impersonation
Renowned actress Scarlett Johansson has expressed vehement objections to artificial intelligence company OpenAI, accusing them of creating a voice for their latest AI system, ChatGPT 4o, that closely resembles her own vocal tones. This accusation comes despite Johansson's explicit refusal when initially approached by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman last September to lend her voice to the project.
In a statement released on Monday, the acclaimed performer expressed her dismay, stating, "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."
Johansson's allegations suggest that Altman's actions may have been intentional, pointing to his cryptic tweet of the word "her" – an apparent reference to the 2013 film "Her" in which the actress voiced an AI assistant named Samantha. The statement further alleges that two days prior to the demo's release, Altman reached out again, seeking to persuade Johansson to reconsider her stance.
In response to the allegations, OpenAI has agreed to remove the voice in question, dubbed "Sky," from their AI system. However, Altman maintains that the voice was not intended to mimic Johansson's, stating, "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."
This incident has reignited discussions surrounding the ethical implications of AI technology, particularly regarding the potential misuse of celebrities' likenesses and the importance of consent. Johansson's statement highlights the growing concerns over deepfakes and the need for legislation to safeguard individual rights in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
As the capabilities of AI continue to advance, incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of the importance of transparent practices and open dialogue between technology companies and the creative community they may seek to collaborate with or draw inspiration from.