Legal Experts Analyze Scarlett Johansson's Voice Dispute With OpenAI
Northeastern University intellectual property law experts examine the legal merits of Scarlett Johansson's dispute with OpenAI over a ChatGPT voice assistant that users compare to her performance in the film "Her."
Actress Scarlett Johansson speaks out against OpenAI after the company demos a new ChatGPT voice assistant that listeners say sounds remarkably similar to her. The controversy stems from the "Sky" voice featured in the ChatGPT-4o update, which draws immediate comparisons to Johansson's role as the AI character Samantha in the movie "Her." The situation escalates when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tweets the word "her" shortly after the reveal, leading many to believe the resemblance is intentional.
OpenAI firmly denies copying Johansson's voice, stating that the company casts the voice actor for Sky months before reaching out to the actress. According to reports, OpenAI provides evidence showing the voice is not an imitation of Johansson, though the company still pauses the Sky voice option out of respect. Johansson reveals that Altman contacts her in September and again just two days before the demo to ask her to voice the system, which she declines, adding tension to the timeline of events.
Northeastern University intellectual property law experts weigh in on whether Johansson holds legal grounds to sue the AI company. While right-of-publicity laws protect against the unauthorized commercial use of a person's identity, proving that an AI-generated voice constitutes a direct legal imitation remains legally complex. As Johansson's legal team demands a detailed explanation of how the Sky voice is created, the situation highlights the growing friction between celebrity rights and rapid AI development.