Last week, OpenAI unveiled the latest advancement in its AI capabilities with the introduction of the GPT-4o, showcasing a more human-like voice mode. One of the voice actresses, named Sky in particular, drew a lot of attention for her striking resemblance voice to Scarlett Johansson’s character in the 2013 film “Her,” where a man forms a relationship with a sophisticated AI assistant. Despite her strange appearance is confirmed by OpenAI as a purely coincidental.
OpenAI’s Stance
In a blog post, OpenA clarified its position on the matter, insisting that Sky’s voice is not an intentional Scarlett Johansson imitation. According to the company, Sky is voiced by another professional actor who uses his natural speaking voice. OpenAI stressed its commitment to ethical behavior: AI voices should not intentionally mimic a particular celebrity voice.
To protect the privacy of the voice talents, OpenAI avoids revealing their identities. Nevertheless, the company assured that these artists are generously compensated and receive more than market cap for their contributions.
Scarlett Johansson’s Response
Actress Scarlett Johansson expressed her sadness over the situation on Monday. She said she rejected OpenAI’s request to give his voice to ChatGPT-4o and was “shocked” and “annoyed” that the AI company used a pitch that “sounded very threatening” Johansson’s lawyers requested that OpenAI fire Sky voice does not come from the chatbot , further underlining the seriousness of this issue.
The Celebrity Voice Dilemma
The situation brings to light the broader issue of AI voices and their resemblance to well-known personalities. Scarlett Johansson’s performance in “Her” is one of the most notable representations of a virtual assistant in popular culture. Given the film’s impact and its portrayal of a personable AI, it’s not surprising that current voice assistants might inadvertently echo this style. Johansson herself has been proactive in protecting her voice and likeness, previously taking legal action against a developer for using an AI-generated version of her voice in an advertisement.
New Voice Mode for GPT-4o
In the wake of the controversy, OpenAI continues to advance its voice capabilities. The company plans to release a new Voice Mode for GPT-4o in alpha to ChatGPT Plus users in the coming weeks. This new mode aims to make interactions with ChatGPT even more natural, handling interruptions smoothly, managing group conversations effectively, filtering out background noise, and adapting to tone. Additionally, OpenAI is set to introduce more voices to better match the diverse interests and preferences of users.
OpenAI’s Next Steps
We’ve heard questions about how we chose the voices in ChatGPT, especially Sky. We are working to pause the use of Sky while we address them.
Read more about how we chose these voices: https://t.co/R8wwZjU36L
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 20, 2024
While OpenAI has not provided specific details on the adjustments it plans to make, the decision to pause Sky indicates a careful consideration of public feedback and ethical implications. The company aims to ensure that its AI voices are distinct and respectful of existing celebrities’ identities.