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 might 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 Might 13. The actor performed the voice character within the movie “Her” a few man who types a relationship with an AI digital assistant named Samantha.
“After a lot consideration and for private causes, I declined the provide,” Johansson stated in a press release to CNBC. “9 months later, my mates, household and most people all famous how a lot the most recent system named ‘Sky’ seemed like me.”
Altman tweeted the cryptic message “her” on the day OpenAI introduced its new AI.
“Once 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 shops 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 massive corporations like Disney up to now. In 2021, Johansson and Walt Disney settled the breach of contract lawsuit the “Black Widow” actor introduced towards 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 will not be an imitation of Scarlett Johansson however belongs to a unique skilled actress utilizing her personal pure talking voice,” the corporate wrote in a weblog publish on Sunday. “To guard their privateness, we can not share the names of our voice abilities.”
Johansson stated she wrote two letters to Altman and OpenAI, asking them to element the method of making Sky.
“In a time after 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 applicable 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 obtained a proposal from Sam Altman, who wished to rent me to voice the present ChatGPT 4.0 system. He instructed me that he felt that by my voicing the system, I might bridge the hole between tech corporations and creatives and assist customers to really feel snug with the seismic shift regarding people and AI. He stated he felt that my voice could be comforting to folks.
After a lot consideration and for private causes, I declined the provide. 9 months later, my mates, household and most people all famous how a lot the most recent system named “Sky” seemed like me.
Once 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 shops couldn’t inform the distinction. Mr. Altman even insinuated that the similarity was intentional, tweeting a single phrase “her” – a reference to the movie by which I voiced a chat system, Samantha, who types 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
On account of their actions, I used to be pressured to rent authorized counsel, who wrote two letters to Mr. Altman and OpenAI, setting out what that they had carried out 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 after 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 applicable laws to assist be sure that particular person rights are protected.”
