The clash between actress Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over the use of a voice resembling Johansson’s without her consent for a new ChatGPT project has drawn attention, with insights from Elon Musk and details of the fallout.
Elon Musk has weighed in on the controversy involving actress Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman regarding the use of a voice resembling Johansson’s without her consent for a new ChatGPT project. Johansson, known for her role as a virtual assistant in the 2013 movie “Her,” claims that after she declined an offer to voice OpenAI’s new app, the company used a voice that sounds almost identical to hers.
In response to a social media post on the issue, Musk compared the situation to the dystopian Netflix series “Black Mirror.” Altman, in a statement, denied that the voice named “Sky” was Johansson’s and apologized for not communicating better with her representatives. He confirmed that OpenAI paused the use of Sky’s voice after the backlash. Despite Altman’s assurances, Johansson expressed her disbelief and anger at the similarity of the voice to her own and the lack of consent.
OpenAI showcased its latest AI model, GPT-4o, which features advanced audio capabilities, marking significant progress in AI-generated conversational realism. The model, which was principally offered to paid subscribers, is set to become available for free tier users in the future. However, due to the controversy, OpenAI has suspended the use of the voice resembling Johansson while addressing public concerns.
Overall, this incident highlights the tension between technological advancements and the rights of creative professionals.
