Johansson alleges that OpenAI copied her voice after she declined CEO Sam Altman’s request to license it. OpenAI claims the voice actor for ‘Sky’ was hired well in advance of any communication with Johansson
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Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson recently accused OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, of replicating her voice for its AI-powered chatbot without her consent.
Johansson claimed that the company used a voice for its chatbot, known as ‘Sky’, that sounded remarkably similar to hers, alleging that OpenAI copied her voice after she declined CEO Sam Altman’s request to license it.
A recent report by the Washington Post has shed further light on the matter, suggesting that OpenAI issued a casting call last year and hired an actress for the role of ‘Sky’ months before Altman contacted Johansson.
Documents obtained by the publication reveal that the voice actor for ‘Sky’ was hired well in advance of any communication with Johansson.
According to interviews with individuals involved in the hiring process, OpenAI did not disclose that it was seeking someone with a voice similar to Scarlett Johansson’s.
The agent representing the actor hired for ‘Sky’ confirmed that neither Johansson nor her movie ‘Her’ was mentioned during the hiring process.
Johansson maintains that she was approached by Sam Altman in September of last year to provide her voice for ChatGPT, an offer she declined. She suggested that the similarity between her voice and ‘Sky’ was intentional, pointing to Altman’s cryptic tweet containing the word ‘her’ as evidence.
Following Johansson’s allegations, SAG-AFTRA, a prominent organisation representing television and radio artists, supported the actress. In response, Altman announced that OpenAI would be removing ‘Sky’ from its products.
Johansson’s claims have prompted scrutiny of AI companies using copyrighted content without permission to train tools like ChatGPT. Mitch Glazier, the current head of the Recording Industry Association of America, believes that Johansson may have a strong case against OpenAI.
The controversy surrounding Johansson’s accusations highlights the growing debate over the use of actors’ voices and images by AI companies. Hollywood studios are grappling with how to leverage AI technology to enhance the entertainment experience while ensuring that AI voices can be distinguished from those of real humans.
(With inputs from agencies)