Scarlett Johansson, the well-known actress, has been in the news after confronting OpenAI for its unauthorized use of a voice that closely resembles her own in their conversational AI system, ChatGPT. Despite her refusal to lend her voice to the project, the company proceeded with a strikingly similar sound-alike which caused the star surprise and frustration.
Following this development, Johansson’s legal representatives reached out to OpenAI demanding the removal of the replicated voice. OpenAI had introduced the Sky voice recently, which bore an uncanny resemblance to Johansson’s in the 2013 film “Her.”
OpenAI announced on Monday their decision to cease using the Sky voice, clarifying that it was never their intention to replicate Johansson’s voice deliberately. Instead, they credited the similarity to another professional actress whose natural voice was used for the system.
Johansson explained how OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, had previously approached her in September 2023 about using her voice for ChatGPT 4.0. She declined the request for personal reasons and later expressed shock and anger upon discovering the resemblance of the Sky voice to hers. The similarity was so precise that it fooled friends and media alike.
Two days before the unveiling of ChatGPT 4.0, Altman reached out again to Johansson’s manager to reconsider, but the presentation went ahead before further discussions could take place.
Determined to protect her name and image from misuse, Johansson intends to take legal steps. She emphasizes the need for clarity in an era where combating deepfakes and safeguarding personal likeness are paramount. She has stressed the importance of transparency and the need for legislation that upholds individual rights.
Important Questions and Answers:
– What was the issue with OpenAI’s use of the Sky voice and Scarlett Johansson?
Scarlett Johansson’s legal team confronted OpenAI for employing a voice in their AI system, ChatGPT, that very closely imitated her own without her permission. This action violated her personal rights and privacy as she had previously declined the offer to use her voice for ethical concerns.
– Did OpenAI admit to replicating Johansson’s voice deliberately?
No, OpenAI stated that the similarity between the Sky voice and Johansson’s was unintentional and attributed to another voice actress with a naturally similar voice.
– How did Scarlett Johansson react to the use of her likeness in the voice?
Johansson was both surprised and frustrated, particularly because it misled people into believing she had lent her voice to the project. She intends to initiate legal action to defend her name and image from such unauthorized use.
Key Challenges and Controversies:
– Ethical Use of Voice Likeness: This case stresses the ethical concerns related to AI and the use of celebrity likeness without explicit consent. The lack of clear boundaries and legislation for voice cloning presents a major challenge in protecting individual rights.
– Intellectual Property Rights: With technology advancing rapidly, questions arise about the protection of one’s voice as intellectual property. Defining and legislating voice rights becomes complex when AI can clone voices indistinguishably.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
– Advantages:
The use of voices similar to celebrities can make AI systems more relatable and engaging for users. AI voice synthesis can offer valuable services, such as creating personalized audiobooks, assistive technologies for the differently-abled, and providing company to those who are lonely.
– Disadvantages:
The misuse of voice cloning technology can lead to identity theft, fraud, and the spread of misinformation through deepfake audio. This poses legal, moral, and reputational risks for individuals whose voices are copied without consent.
If you wish to stay updated on AI developments or learn more about OpenAI, you can visit their main website at OpenAI. Additionally, for broader information related to the use of AI in media, the website of the Electronic Frontier Foundation at EFF offers insights into privacy and digital rights discussions.
Please note that links to external websites were provided based on their relevance and validity as of the knowledge cutoff date. Ensure to visit those sites directly for the most current information and resources.