OpenAI announced on a recent Monday that it will be replacing a ChatGPT voice known as Sky after the resemblance to actress Scarlett Johansson’s voice was noted by users. This follows the showcasing of the voice during the demonstration of the new GPT-4o model.
The company clarified in a blog post that the resemblance was not intentional and the voice belonged to another actress. They emphasized respect for the privacy of their voice talent and opted not to disclose their identities.
Controversy arose after a video of the demo circulated on social media, where the voice was variously described as excessively flirtatious and reminiscent of a male fantasy.
The voice drew parallels to Johansson’s AI character from the movie “Her,” which sparked additional commentary and humor online, particularly after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s enigmatic tweet referencing the film.
The viral attention from the demo was due in part to the voice’s reactions during the demonstration, which included flirty comments and giggling, distracting from the chatbot’s technical capabilities.
In response, OpenAI affirmed its goal for chatbot voices to be “approachable” and “trust-inspiring,” as well as intending to add more voice options to reflect the diversity of user preferences.
FAQ
Why is OpenAI removing the Sky voice from ChatGPT?
OpenAI is removing the Sky voice after feedback that it resembled the voice of Scarlett Johansson, which was not intended.
Will OpenAI disclose the identity of the actress behind the Sky voice?
No, OpenAI respects the privacy of their voice talents and will not be sharing their identities.
What kind of voices is OpenAI planning to introduce?
OpenAI plans to introduce a variety of voices to ChatGPT that match the diverse interests and preferences of its users and sound approachable, trustworthy, and engaging.
Conclusion
OpenAI’s decision to remove the Sky voice from ChatGPT demonstrates their commitment to user feedback and ethical considerations regarding AI voice resemblance to real individuals. With an ongoing effort to create diverse and approachable AI voices, OpenAI intends to continuously improve user experience while respecting privacy and authenticity in AI interactions.