Scarlett Johansson mentioned that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman contacted her final September about voicing the present ChatGPT 4.0 system however that she declined. After the launch of “Sky” that resembles her voice, Johansson mentioned she’s employed authorized counsel to demand extra details about how the corporate created the AI voice mannequin, main the corporate to as we speak “pause” its utilization.
“After I heard the launched demo, I used to be shocked, angered, and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice so eerily just like mine that my closest pals and information shops couldn’t inform the distinction,” Johansson mentioned in a press release obtained by NPR on Monday, Might 20.
Johansson mentioned Altman contacted her brokers two days earlier than the discharge of ChatGPT 4.0 asking her to rethink, however the demo that includes Sky was launched earlier than they’d the possibility to satisfy.
The assertion additionally refers to Altman’s Might 13 tweet of the phrase “her,” in reference to the 2013 Joaquin Phoenix movie during which Johansson voices an AI helper named Samantha. Altman has referred to as “Her” his favourite film.
“In a time once we are all grappling with deepfakes and the safety of our personal likeness, our personal work, our personal identities, I consider these are questions that deserve absolute readability,” Johansson continued. “I look ahead to decision within the type of transparency and the passage of acceptable laws to assist make sure that particular person rights are protected.”
Johannson’s publicist didn’t instantly reply to IndieWire’s request for extra remark.
OpenAI in a weblog publish on Monday mentioned Sky was not a voice mannequin however is the “pure talking voice” of one other unidentified voice actress who was compensated for her voice skills, and that Sky just isn’t an imitation of Johansson’s voice.
“We consider that AI voices mustn’t intentionally mimic a celeb’s distinctive voice — Sky’s voice just isn’t an imitation of Scarlett Johansson however belongs to a distinct skilled actress utilizing her personal pure talking voice,” the publish reads. “To guard their privateness, we can not share the names of our voice skills.”
Sky is one in all 5 voices OpenAI launched as a voice function to go alongside ChatGPT 4.0, which they mentioned have been chosen from over 400 submissions and achieved in collaboration with “award-winning casting administrators and producers.”