Actor Scarlett Johansson says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman used a voice just like hers for its synthetic intelligence voice software program regardless of declining his invitation for its use.
The response comes after OpenAI stated it could pull its ChatGPT AI voice dubbed “Sky”, which launched final week amid controversy over it sounding like Johansson’s voice within the film “Her.”
Johansson stated Altman approached her final September after which once more two days earlier than it introduced ChatGPT-4o on Could 13. The actor performed the voice character within the movie “Her” a couple of man who varieties a relationship with an AI digital assistant named Samantha.
“After a lot consideration and for private causes, I declined the supply,” Johansson stated in an announcement to CNBC. “9 months later, my mates, household and most people all famous how a lot the most recent system named ‘Sky’ appeared like me.”
Altman tweeted the cryptic message “her” on the day OpenAI introduced its new AI.
“After I heard the launched demo, I used to be shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily just like mine that my closest mates and information retailers couldn’t inform the distinction,” Johansson’s assertion continued. “Mr. Altman even insinuated that the similarity was intentional, tweeting a single phrase ‘her.'”
The actor wrote Monday that she has employed authorized counsel. Johansson has sparred with giant corporations like Disney previously. In 2021, Johansson and Walt Disney settled the breach of contract lawsuit the “Black Widow” actor introduced in opposition to the studio.
“We have heard questions on how we selected the voices in ChatGPT, particularly Sky,” Microsoft-backed OpenAI posted on X on Monday.
“Sky’s voice isn’t an imitation of Scarlett Johansson however belongs to a distinct skilled actress utilizing her personal pure talking voice,” the corporate wrote in a weblog submit on Sunday. “To guard their privateness, we can’t share the names of our voice skills.”
Johansson stated she wrote two letters to Altman and OpenAI, asking them to element the method of making Sky.
“In a time once we are all grappling with deepfakes and the safety of our personal likeness, our personal work, our personal identities, I consider these are questions that deserve absolute readability,” her assertion says. “I look ahead to decision within the type of transparency and the passage of acceptable laws to assist be sure that particular person rights are protected.”
OpenAI did not instantly reply to a request for touch upon the actor’s assertion.
Right here is Scarlett Johansson’s full assertion:
“Final September, I acquired a proposal from Sam Altman, who wished to rent me to voice the present ChatGPT 4.0 system. He informed me that he felt that by my voicing the system, I might bridge the hole between tech corporations and creatives and assist shoppers to really feel comfy with the seismic shift regarding people and AI. He stated he felt that my voice can be comforting to individuals.Â
After a lot consideration and for private causes, I declined the supply. 9 months later, my mates, household and most people all famous how a lot the most recent system named “Sky” appeared like me.
After I heard the launched demo, I used to be shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily just like mine that my closest mates and information retailers couldn’t inform the distinction. Mr. Altman even insinuated that the similarity was intentional, tweeting a single phrase “her” – a reference to the movie during which I voiced a chat system, Samantha, who varieties an intimate relationship with a human.
Two days earlier than the ChatGPT 4.0 demo was launched, Mr. Altman contacted my agent, asking me to rethink. Earlier than we might join, the system was on the market
Because of their actions, I used to be compelled to rent authorized counsel, who wrote two letters to Mr. Altman and OpenAI, setting out what they’d executed and asking them to element the precise course of by which they created the “Sky” voice. Consequently, OpenAI reluctantly agreed to take down the “Sky” voice.
In a time once we are all grappling with deepfakes and the safety of our personal likeness, our personal work, our personal identities, I consider these are questions that deserve absolute readability. I look ahead to decision within the type of transparency and the passage of acceptable laws to assist be sure that particular person rights are protected.”
