OpenAI CEO Sam Altman issued an apology to Scarlett Johansson on Tuesday following her shock over a new synthetic voice, Sky, developed by the ChatGPT-maker. However, Altman clarified that the voice wasn’t modeled after Johansson’s.
The controversy stemmed from the introduction of “Sky” alongside the release of OpenAI’s GPT-4o AI technology. Sky’s voice, showcased in a demo, displayed a remarkable human-like quality, drawing comparisons to Johansson’s AI character in the film “Her.”
Altman had previously referenced “Her” as inspiration for AI interactions. However, he emphasized that Sky’s voice wasn’t intended to mimic Johansson’s and was cast before any contact with her.
In response to Johansson’s concerns, OpenAI has halted the use of Sky’s voice out of respect. Altman expressed regret for the lack of communication with Johansson.
Johansson revealed that Altman had proposed collaboration in September to create a synthetic voice but she declined.
OpenAI explained its voice casting process, focusing on traits like timelessness and trustworthiness. The company stressed that AI voices shouldn’t imitate celebrities deliberately.
While advancements in AI have been exciting, tech giants have been cautious about humanizing chatbots too much. Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi cautioned against making AI too human, emphasizing the importance of clarity about its artificial nature.
This dispute with Johansson comes shortly after OpenAI disbanded a team dedicated to addressing the long-term risks of AI, integrating its members into other projects and research.
