Actress Scarlett Johansson Threatens Legal Action Against OpenAI for Allegedly Copying Her Voice for ChatGPT System

OpenAI could be getting sued by actress Scarlett Johansson

In a shocking turn of events, actress Scarlett Johansson is threatening legal action against Sam Altman and his company OpenAI for allegedly copying her voice without permission for their popular ChatGPT system. Johansson claims that the voice of “Sky” in ChatGPT is so similar to hers that even her closest friends could not tell the difference.

Johansson, who famously voiced the artificial intelligence assistant in the 2013 movie “Her,” said that Altman had initially asked her to be the voice of his AI system, but when she declined, he went ahead and copied her voice anyway. This has led to a heated confrontation between Johansson and OpenAI, with Johansson’s legal counsel sending multiple letters to the company demanding transparency about the creation of the “Sky” voice.

In response, OpenAI has denied that the voice is Johansson’s, stating that they had cast the voice actor behind Sky before any outreach to Johansson. They have also announced that they are pausing the use of the Sky voice in their products out of respect for Johansson.

This legal dispute comes at a crucial time for OpenAI, as they are already facing litigation from media companies, authors, and artists for allegedly using their materials without consent. Johansson’s bold stand against OpenAI highlights the growing concerns surrounding deepfakes and the protection of personal identity in the digital age.

SAG-AFTRA, the influential union that represents television and radio artists, has expressed their support for Johansson in this matter and is backing her in her fight for clarity and transparency. They are advocating for federal legislation that would protect actors’ voices and likenesses from unauthorized digital replication.

Ultimately, this dispute between Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI serves as a reminder of the ethical challenges posed by advancements in artificial intelligence and the need for clear regulations to protect individuals’ rights in the digital sphere. Johansson’s courage in speaking out against OpenAI sets an important precedent for the future of AI technology and its impact on creative industries.