Scarlett Johansson Claims AI Chatbot Mimics Her Voice
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Key Takeaways
Scarlett Johansson accuses OpenAI of using a voice in their GPT-4o chatbot that sounds "eerily similar" to hers, despite her declining their request to use her voice.
OpenAI denies the voice is an imitation and says it was recorded by a professional actor, but has paused its use of the "Sky" voice option following Johansson's claims.
The incident shows growing concerns about voice imitation technology and potential misuse of AI.
Johansson's case is backed by SAG-AFTRA, and the controversy adds to existing worries about OpenAI's approach to risk assessment and responsible AI development.
Actress Alleges Openai Used Her Voice Without Permission
Scarlett Johansson, known for her roles in films like "Her" and "Black Widow," has accused OpenAI of using a voice "eerily similar" to hers in their new GPT-4o chatbot system, despite her declining a request to provide her voice for the project.
Johansson's Statement and OpenAI's Response
In a statement shared with NBC News, Johansson explained her experience with OpenAI.
"Last September, I received an offer from Sam Altman, who wanted to hire me to voice the current ChatGPT 4.0 system," Johansson said in a statement, "He told me that he felt that by my voicing the system, I could bridge the gap between tech companies and creatives and help consumers to feel comfortable with the seismic shift concerning humans and AI. He said he felt that my voice would be comforting to people."
Johansson ultimately declined the offer for personal reasons. However, nine months later, she says she and others noticed an eery resemblance between her voice and the "Sky" voice option within the new chatbot system.
OpenAI debuted GPT-4o last week, touting its voice chat capabilities and offering five distinct voice options, including "Sky." Despite Johansson's claims, OpenAI maintains that the "Sky" voice is not an imitation of hers.
They state it was recorded by a professional voice actor and will not disclose the actor's identity for privacy reasons.
Johansson further alleges that Altman referenced her 2013 film "Her" in a tweet promoting the new product, seemingly acknowledging the connection between the film's AI and the "Sky" voice.
"When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference," said Johansson. "Mr. Altman even insinuated that the similarity was intentional, tweeting a single word 'her' - a reference to the film in which I voiced a chat system, Samantha, who forms an intimate relationship with a human."
While Johansson expressed her concern with the voice similarity, her situation paints a larger picture of protecting individual rights, especially when it comes to AI.
Voice imitation technology is a recent invention that seems to be evolving more everyday. People can now use software to mimic the voices of celebrities and public figures, like Johansson or politocal figures. This raises serious concerns about spreading misinformation.
For instance, a fake Biden voice was used in robocalls to mislead voters during the New Hampshire primaries.
The misuse extends beyond politics, with scammers using AI-generated celebrity voices to promote phony deals on social media. This isn't Johansson's first experience with unauthorized AI use.
In November, she took legal action against an AI company that used her likeness in an ad featuring AI-generated images of her.
Industry Support for Johansson
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has expressed support for Johansson. The union, representing over 150,000 performers, emphasizes the importance of transparency and protections for actors in the development of AI technology.
"We thank Ms. Johansson for speaking out on this issue of crucial importance to all SAG-AFTRA members," a spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA said. "We share in her concerns and fully support her right to have clarity and transparency regarding the voice used in developing the Chat GPT-4o appliance 'Sky.'"
Despite their claims, OpenAI has relunctantly agreed to no longer use the "Sky" voice.