How are the voices chosen for ChatGPT according to OpenAI?

ChatGPT has quickly become a key part of many people’s lives over just a couple of years: thinking of life without it is like trying to remember back before your younger sibling was born. Since its release on November 30, 2022, the online AI chatbot has been used as a tool for everything from proofreading and spell-checking to instant content creation.

A huge step forward was taken in September 2023, when ChatGPT opened up its voice capabilities, allowing users to have their answers read aloud. Five voices were chosen and, according to OpenAI, the creator of the bot, over 400 potential candidates were initially in the running.

OpenAI say the “extensive process” to select the voices takes five months and involves “professional voice actors, talent agencies, casting directors, and industry advisors”.

What are the names of the ChatGPT voices? Is Scarlett Johansson one of them?

It’s not just Siri who gets anthropomorphised. Breeze, Cove, Ember, Juniper and Sky are the names of the ChatGPT voices, and they are all samples from the voice actors that worked with the AI group.

Controversy regarding one of the actors has hit the headlines recently, with Scarlett Johansson “shocked, angered and in disbelief” that one of the voices sounded “eerily” similar to hers.

OpenAI say that they believe that “AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebrity’s distinctive voice—Sky’s voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson but belongs to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice. To protect their privacy, we cannot share the names of our voice talents.”

“We’ve heard questions about how we chose the voices in ChatGPT, especially Sky. We are working to pause the use of Sky while we address them,” OpenAI said in a tweet.

Do the ChatGPT voice actors get paid?

In a word: yes. OpenAI say that each actor receives “compensation above top-of-market rates” while adding that “this will continue for as long as their voices are used in our products”.

How did the ChatGPT voice actors get selected?

Once the call from OpenAI went out into the public world, over 400 submissions were reportedly sent to the company. “Actors were given a script of ChatGPT responses and were asked to record them[selves].

These samples ranged from answering questions about mindfulness to brainstorming travel plans, and even engaging in conversations about a user’s day.” The casting team whittled the list down to 14 voices before selecting a final 5.

During June and July, OpenAI flew the five actors to San Francisco for recording sessions and in-person meetings with the various teams within the company. OpenAI say that we can expect “even more options as we plan to introduce additional voices in ChatGPT to better match the diverse interests and preferences of users”.

Now then, since you’ve now digested all that information, there is only one more question to be answered: did I write this article, or was it ChatGPT?