Scarlett Johansson and the AI Voice Controversy: Did OpenAI Copy Her Voice?
Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson raised eyebrows recently. She accused OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, of copying her voice for their AI assistant, Sky. Johansson claimed Sky's voice sounded "Very similar" to hers. This sparked a debate about AI development and celebrity voices.
Scarlett Johansson reportedly felt "shocked" and "angered" after hearing Sky's voice. She had previously declined a request from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to license her voice for their project. This led her to believe they had used her voice without permission.
OpenAI, however, strongly denied the accusation. They insisted they never intended to imitate Johansson's voice. OpenAI stated, "We believe AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebrity's voice." They claimed Sky's voice belonged to a different actress.
Scarlett Johansson and the AI Voice Controversy
The Washington Post investigated the controversy. They found documents suggesting OpenAI cast a voice actor for Sky months before contacting Johansson. Interviews with people involved in the hiring process revealed OpenAI wasn't seeking a Johansson sound-alike.
So who's right? Johansson or OpenAI? The truth may be unclear. Even if not an exact copy, it's possible Sky's voice shares similar qualities to Johansson's. Human voices naturally vary, but some share characteristics. Perhaps Sky's voice simply falls within that range.
This incident highlights the growing complexity of AI development. As AI becomes more sophisticated, the ability to mimic human voices raises ethical questions. Should celebrities have control over the voice data used in AI? Who owns the rights to a voice generated by AI?
The Johansson-OpenAI case doesn't have a definitive answer yet. But it has sparked important discussions about AI ethics and intellectual property in the digital age. As AI technology advances, these questions will likely become even more pressing.