Scarlett Johansson shocked at ChatGPT's new voice feature
Scarlett Johansson recently expressed her shock at a new voice mode developed by OpenAI, which closely resembles her character in the 2013 film Her. The generative artificial intelligence startup unveiled a demo of its latest ChatGPT 4.0 model, featuring a new feature that responds to user queries with a feminine, emotive voice. The voice, named "Sky," was removed this week amid widespread criticism, especially after Johansson revealed that OpenAI had approached her nine months earlier to voice its AI system, an offer she declined for personal reasons.
Scarlett Johansson's Response
In her statement, Johansson disclosed that she had been approached by Sam Altman in September to voice the ChatGPT 4.0 system. She mentioned that the public, as well as her friends and family, noticed the striking similarity between the system's voice and her own. Johansson expressed shock and disbelief at the resemblance, particularly after Altman tweeted a single word, "her," alluding to the film where she voiced a chat system named Samantha.
Johansson's concerns prompted her to seek legal counsel, emphasizing the importance of clarity in questions surrounding deepfakes and the protection of individual rights.
OpenAI's Response
In a public statement, OpenAI acknowledged the concerns raised and announced their decision to pause the use of the Sky voice. The company clarified that the voice was not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson but belonged to a different actress using her own natural speaking voice. They highlighted the criteria for choosing Sky's voice, emphasizing qualities such as warmth, engagement, and trustworthiness.
Concerns Over Safety
Following the launch of the new AI model, safety researcher Jan Leike resigned from OpenAI, citing concerns about the company's safety culture and processes. Leike highlighted the challenges of creating machines smarter than humans and stressed the need for responsible development in the AI field.
OpenAI's leadership, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, addressed the safety concerns, emphasizing a commitment to balancing the benefits and risks of AI technology.
As discussions around AI ethics and technology continue, the incident involving Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI serves as a reminder of the complexities and responsibilities involved in developing artificial intelligence.
