Scarlett Johansson, one of Hollywood’s leading actresses, has issued a pointed public statement accusing OpenAI of creating a voice for its latest ChatGPT assistant that closely resembles hers.
In a statement first shared by NPR, Johansson revealed that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had initially approached her last year, asking if she would provide her voice for their new AI assistant. After careful consideration, she declined the offer for personal reasons.
Johansson further alleged that Altman contacted her agent again shortly before the assistant’s launch, inquiring if she might reconsider.
However, before she could respond, the assistant, named “Sky,” was unveiled, featuring a voice Johansson described as strikingly familiar.
“When I heard the demo, I was shocked, angered, and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would release a voice so similar to mine that even my closest friends and prominent media outlets mistook it for me,” Johansson stated.
Adding to the controversy, Johansson pointed out a tweet from Altman at the time of Sky’s release that simply read “her.”
This appeared to reference Johansson’s role in the 2013 film Her, where she voiced an AI system involved in a deeply personal relationship with the protagonist, played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Johansson emphasized the broader implications of this issue, particularly in a world increasingly concerned with deepfake technology and the protection of personal likenesses.
“In an era where safeguarding our identities and creative work is more critical than ever, these are matters that demand transparency and appropriate legal frameworks,” she said.
The actress concluded by expressing hope for clear resolutions and stronger legislation to protect individual rights.
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