Scarlett Johansson Sues OpenAI Over ChatGPT Voice

Scarlett Johansson Takes Legal Action Against OpenAI for Unauthorized Voice Use

Scarlett Johansson has initiated legal proceedings against OpenAI, accusing the company of replicating a ChatGPT voice similar to hers without her consent. Johansson claims she turned down an offer from OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, to voice ChatGPT 4.0. This comes after Altman expressed admiration for Johansson's portrayal of an AI assistant in the film "Her." OpenAI has ceased using the voice, named Sky, and is engaged in discussions with Johansson's representatives. The company asserts that the voice came from an actor speaking in their natural tone, but Johansson is seeking clarity on the voice's creation process.

Key Takeaways

• Scarlett Johansson alleges that OpenAI utilized her voice for ChatGPT without her permission.
• Johansson has dispatched legal notices to OpenAI, requesting transparency regarding the replication of her voice.
• OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, offered Johansson the opportunity to voice ChatGPT 4.0 but was declined.
• Following Johansson's refusal, OpenAI developed a voice resembling hers, named Sky, which is no longer in use.
• OpenAI is currently in dialogue with Johansson's representatives.

Analysis

Scarlett Johansson's legal action against OpenAI for the unauthorized use of her voice in ChatGPT 4.0 may have far-reaching implications for AI ethics and voice synthesis technology. This situation underscores the necessity for clear regulations governing consent and ownership in AI-generated content. OpenAI's reputation could be adversely impacted, affecting its partnerships, investments, and its standing within the AI community. Moreover, this occurrence might prompt other celebrities to safeguard their voice rights, potentially leading to legal conflicts and increased scrutiny of AI practices. In the long run, this case could drive the advancement of more transparent AI voice creation methods and stricter consent policies, exerting influence on the technology and entertainment sectors.

Did You Know?

• ChatGPT: It is an OpenAI model and a component of the GPT (Generative Pretrained Transformer) family, capable of generating human-like text based on received input, such as answering questions, writing essays, summarizing texts, translating languages, and creating content like poems and stories.
• Generative AI: This subset of AI is proficient in producing or modifying content akin to human creation, spanning text, images, audio, and video. ChatGPT exemplifies a generative AI model focused on text generation.
• OpenAI: Founded in 2015 by entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Greg Brockman, OpenAI is a research organization dedicated to advancing friendly AI for the universal benefit of humanity. It is renowned for pioneering contributions to AI, notably the development of GPT-3, one of the most potent language models globally.