Concerns Arise as AI Voice Resembles Scarlett Johansson’s
World-renowned actress Scarlett Johansson has expressed discontent because an AI voice developed by OpenAI strikingly mirrors her own. Demonstrating her discomfort, Johansson pointed out the resemblance after declining to voice the company’s chatbot, ChatGPT.
Under intense scrutiny, OpenAI announced the discontinuation of ‘Sky,’ a voice option for their AI systems. CEO Sam Altman clarified that another actress, not Johansson, provided the voice for ‘Sky.’ In his outreach to the media, he emphasized that imitation of Johansson’s voice was never their intent.
OpenAI communicated their respect for the actress by choosing not to use ‘Sky’ going forward. The company stressed the ethical standpoint that AI voices should not deliberately mimic those of celebrities. This principle reflects their work with professional voice actors, who contributed to voices labeled Breeze, Cove, Ember, Juniper, and Sky.
Several observers noted the uncanny similarity of ‘Sky’ to Johansson’s tone, reminiscent of her role in the futuristic film ‘Her,’ where she voiced an AI love interest. OpenAI’s release of the latest GPT-4 iteration put the spotlight back on ‘Sky’ with its remarkably human-like intonation.
Johansson highlighted the September 2023 incident where Altman sought permission to use her voice for ChatGPT, which she refused. Later, acquaintances drew parallels between her voice and the new ‘Sky’ system. Astonished by the similarity, the ‘Avengers’ star revealed she has sought legal advice to investigate the voice’s derivation. The battle over entitlement to actors’ voices and likenesses in the realm of artificial intelligence remains a hot topic within Hollywood circles, with ‘Sky’ caught in the crossfire of this emergent ethical debate.
Important Questions with Answers
1. Why did Scarlett Johansson take issue with the AI voice named ‘Sky’?
Scarlett Johansson took issue because the AI voice developed by OpenAI, named ‘Sky,’ bore a close resemblance to her own voice, making it recognizable as similar to the one she uses in her professional acting career.
2. What was OpenAI’s response to the controversy?
OpenAI’s response was to discontinue the ‘Sky’ voice option, clarifying that the intent was not to imitate Scarlett Johansson’s voice. They stated that another actress had provided the voice and affirmed their commitment to ethical practices in AI voice development.
3. Has there been any legal action taken with regards to the AI voice controversy?
The article suggests that Scarlett Johansson has sought legal advice to investigate the origin of the ‘Sky’ voice, indicating a potential legal challenge concerning the use of vocal likeness without consent.
Key Challenges and Controversies Associated with the Topic
The primary controversy here is the ethical use of a person’s likeness, particularly their voice, in AI applications. A central challenge is determining the ownership and rights to a person’s vocal characteristics and whether AI-generated voices that sound similar to real individuals infringe on personal or intellectual property rights.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of using AI-generated voices similar to Scarlett Johansson’s are potential improvements in the user experience, making interactions with AI more personable and natural. These voices can also enhance entertainment value and familiarity in digital assistants and other AI-driven characters.
Disadvantages might include the potential infringement on an individual’s rights to their voice and likeness and the possibility of confusion or misrepresentation when a celebrity’s voice is used without permission. This can lead to negative perceptions of AI ethics and create legal and reputational risks for companies involved.
It is critical to visit official sources for more details on proprietary AI technology and ethical guidelines:
– OpenAI for updates on their AI research and policies.
– For legal precedents and information on likeness rights, one might consider visiting government websites on intellectual property rights or entertainment law associations.
It is essential to verify that the URLs are valid and lead to the official domains to ensure the information’s accuracy and to remain up-to-date with ongoing developments in this field.