The recent controversy surrounding OpenAI’s ChatGPT app and the alleged similarity in voice to Scarlett Johansson has taken yet another twist. OpenAI has released documents and an updated blog post in an attempt to clarify that the ‘Sky’ chatbot voice was not intentionally designed to mimic Johansson’s voice. These developments come after the actress expressed her disbelief at the striking resemblance between her voice and the one used in the app.
In a statement shared with NPR, Johansson revealed that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had approached her twice in the past to license her voice for the app. However, she declined both times. OpenAI preemptively removed the ‘Sky’ voice option from the ChatGPT app on May 19, just before Johansson made her concerns public.
To defend their actions, OpenAI has shared documents, recordings, and interviews to highlight that the casting process for the voices in the app was conducted separately from their attempts to approach Johansson. According to The Washington Post, an actress was hired to create the Sky voice months before Altman contacted Johansson. The selected actress’s agent also confirmed that Johansson and her movie “Her” were never mentioned during the process. Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that the actress’s natural speaking voice was altered to sound more like Johansson.
Joanne Jang, OpenAI’s lead for AI model behavior, shed more light on the casting process in her interview with The Washington Post. Jang maintained a tight grip on the project and stated that Altman was not heavily involved in the decision-making process as he was on a world tour during most of the casting process.
However, despite OpenAI’s attempt to clarify the situation, the case is likely to continue, with Johansson reportedly seeking legal counsel. This ongoing battle has similarities to a case from the 1980s involving Bette Midler and the Ford Motor Company. When Midler rejected Ford’s request to use her voice in ads, Ford hired an impersonator. Ultimately, Midler won the legal battle, with a US court ruling in her favor, stating that her voice was distinct and protected against unauthorized use.
OpenAI is now distancing itself from allegations that it intentionally replicated Johansson’s voice in the ChatGPT app, emphasizing that the casting process began before any communication with the actress. The company updated its blog post to include a statement from CEO Sam Altman, clarifying that the voice used for Sky was not intended to resemble Johansson’s. Altman also expressed regret for the lack of better communication with Johansson, leading to the suspension of Sky’s voice in their products.
However, Altman’s social media post using only the word “her” just before OpenAI’s launch of GPT-4o may have unintentionally contributed to speculation that the company was attempting to recreate elements of the movie “Her,” regardless of their casting process.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains uncertain whether the Sky voice option will return to the ChatGPT app. Fans of the app have expressed vocal support through petitions, but OpenAI seems hesitant to reinstate the voice for the time being.
In conclusion, the OpenAI and Scarlett Johansson dispute has taken unexpected turns as the company shares evidence suggesting that the voice similarity was not intentional. With the actress now seeking legal counsel, this case is likely to continue for some time. The involvement of a new technology like AI, coupled with similarities to past legal battles over voice impersonation, adds a fascinating dimension to this sci-fi-esque story. It remains to be seen how this controversy will affect OpenAI’s future projects and their approach to voice casting.
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