Scarlett Johansson claims OpenAI chatbot voice ‘eerily similar’ to hers

On Monday, Scarlett Johansson accused OpenAI of developing a voice for its ChatGPT system that sounded “eerily similar” to hers after she declined an offer to voice the chatbot herself.

In a statement released shortly after OpenAI announced it was taking down the voice, called ‘Sky,’ Johansson expressed her concerns. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded in an email to Reuters, stating that Sky‍‍`s voice was not an imitation of Johansson’s, but was created using a different professional actress.

Altman explained, “The voice of Sky is not Scarlett Johansson’s, and it was never intended to resemble hers. We cast the voice actor behind Sky’s voice before any outreach to Ms. Johansson. Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products. We are sorry to Ms. Johansson that we didn’t communicate better.”

The debate over the rights to actors’ voices and images has intensified in Hollywood as studios explore the use of AI in creating new entertainment. As AI-generated images and sounds become increasingly lifelike, concerns about intellectual property rights have grown.

Johansson revealed that Altman had approached her in September, offering her the opportunity to voice a ChatGPT character, an offer she declined. “Nine months later, my friends, family, and the general public all noted how much the newest system named ‘Sky’ sounded like me,” she said.

Johansson continued, “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.”

She also mentioned that Altman had “insinuated that the similarity was intentional” by referencing the 2013 movie “Her,” where Johansson voiced an AI assistant.

Her statement was circulated by journalists from NPR and other news outlets, and her publicist shared it. Johansson mentioned that she had sought legal advice regarding the creation process of the voice.

Recently, OpenAI showcased its latest AI model, GPT-4o, which features audio capabilities allowing users to interact with the chatbot and receive real-time responses. This represents a significant advancement in producing more realistic-sounding AI conversations.