After recognizing a similarity to actress Scarlett Johansson’s voice, OpenAI has decided to temporarily halt one of its ChatGPT voices known as Sky.
The artificial intelligence firm provides an array of five distinct voices capable of audibly delivering responses generated by its ChatGPT service.
The resemblance was noticed by users who found that the Sky voice bore a striking correlation to Johansson’s portrayal of an AI assistant in the 2013 feature film titled Her.
Seemingly referring to the movie, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously tweeted “her” on the social media platform X on May 13th, coinciding with the company’s showcase of the new AI chatbot capable of using the voices, GPT-4o.
However, OpenAI later clarified that the resemblance was unintentional, insisting that their AI voices are not designed to replicate any celebrity voices distinctly.
In its clarification, OpenAI explained that the voice of Sky is original, not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson, and that it was provided by a professional actress using her natural voice. The company also has a policy of not disclosing their voice talents to safeguard their privacy.
Addressing the controversy, OpenAI announced through a statement on Monday that it would be temporarily discontinuing the use of the Sky voice whilst reviewing the concerns raised.
Additionally, The New York Times has initiated legal actions against OpenAI, claiming that the company and its major investor, Microsoft, violated copyright laws by training ChatGPT with content from the newspaper, thereby infringing on their intellectual property rights and challenging their journalistic role.
FAQs
Why did OpenAI suspend the use of the voice called Sky?
OpenAI suspended the use of Sky after it was noted that the voice bore a resemblance to actress Scarlett Johansson’s voice.
Did OpenAI intend to replicate Scarlett Johansson’s voice?
No, OpenAI stated that the voice was not intended to mimic any celebrity, including Scarlett Johansson, and it was provided by a professional actress.
Will OpenAI reveal the identity of the voice talent?
OpenAI has a policy in place that protects the privacy of their voice talents, hence they do not disclose the individuals’ identities.
What legal actions has The New York Times taken against OpenAI?
The New York Times filed a lawsuit against OpenAI for reportedly unlawfully using its articles to train and create ChatGPT, alleging copyright infringement and unfair competition.
Conclusion
In response to public scrutiny regarding the similarity of one of its ChatGPT voices to Scarlett Johansson, OpenAI has placed the use of the voice in question on hold. The company emphasizes its commitment to ethical AI practices, including the privacy of the voice actresses and actors it employs. As the conversation around voice imitation technology continues, OpenAI’s move stands as an example of proactive measures in addressing potential intellectual property and ethical concerns in the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence.