OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Apologizes to Scarlett Johansson Over ChatGPT Voice
Sam Altman issues a public apology to Scarlett Johansson after she expresses shock over a new ChatGPT voice that closely resembles her own. The controversy casts a shadow over OpenAI's latest product rollout.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman issues a public apology to actress Scarlett Johansson amid a growing controversy over a new ChatGPT voice feature. Johansson states that she declines an offer from Altman to license her voice for the AI system just days before the company unveils its new "Sky" voice. The actress expresses shock and anger because the demo sounds eerily similar to her actual voice and the AI character she portrays in the movie "Her".
Altman takes to social media to clarify the situation, insisting that the Sky voice is not an imitation of Johansson but belongs to a different professional voice actor. He explains that the casting process for the new voice begins long before they reach out to the actress. Despite his explanation, the timing of Altman's tweet referencing the film "Her" right before the product launch fuels public skepticism about OpenAI's intentions.
The dispute highlights the ongoing legal and ethical challenges surrounding artificial intelligence and the unauthorized use of a person's likeness. Johansson reveals that she hires lawyers to demand transparency from OpenAI regarding the exact creation process of the Sky voice model. This high-profile clash demonstrates the escalating tension between rapid AI development and the protection of individual identity rights in the digital age.