Scarlett Johansson denies ChatGPT use of her voice, but OpenAI proceeds anyway: ‘I was furious, I couldn’t fathom it’

Actress Scarlett Johansson was offered by OpenAI to use her voice in the ChatGPT-4o remake, with the promise of bridging the gap between technology companies and creators. However, Johansson declined the invitation after careful consideration. Despite her decision, OpenAI went ahead and utilized a voice similar to hers in the project, named Sky. This led to public speculation and comments noting the similarity between Sky’s voice and Johansson’s.

Following Johansson’s public statement expressing her shock and disappointment at the use of a voice similar to hers without her permission, OpenAI issued a statement announcing the withdrawal of the Sky voice. The company emphasized that AI voices should not deliberately imitate a celebrity’s voice, and clarified that the voice belonged to a different professional actress using her natural voice.

The controversy surrounding the use of Johansson’s voice highlights ethical concerns in artificial intelligence and raises questions about transparency and consent. Johansson emphasized the importance of protecting individuals’ rights in the era of deepfakes and image manipulation. The incident also sheds light on Sam Altman’s approach as the head of OpenAI, showing a lack of respect for artistic integrity and collaboration with creators.

Moreover, Altman’s leadership style has faced criticism, as several key collaborators left OpenAI recently due to disagreements. The incident with Johansson exposes a clash between ambitious technology development goals and ethical considerations. Johansson’s call for transparency and appropriate legislation to protect individuals’ rights in the realm of AI reflects broader concerns in the field.

The controversy surrounding the use of Scarlett Johansson’s voice in the ChatGPT-4o remake underlines the complexities and challenges of navigating ethical considerations in AI development. It also raises questions about the responsibilities of technology companies and the importance of ensuring transparency and consent in the use of AI technologies.