Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI controversy: What has the actress said about the chatGPT voice system?

Scarlett Johansson is up in arms over a synthetic voice that OpenAI released as a ChatGPT update. What did the actress say about the new system?

Gidget Alikpala

Gidget writes for the latest news section of AS USA, covering breaking news and current affairs. She previously worked for TV for many years, both on and off-camera, as anchor, producer, and writer, reporting on topics from international to lifestyle news. She earned her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Update: May 20th, 2024 19:51 EDT

Actress Scarlett Johansson expressed indignation over OpenAI’s use of a voice software as an update to its generative AI program ChatGPT.

According to a statement released to media outlets, Johansson was “shocked, angered and in disbelief” that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman used a voice “eerily similar” to hers.

In the tweet below is her complete statement, where she mentions that Altman approached her last year to ask to use her voice for the application, a request which she turned down.

She said the actions of the tech company forced her to seek legal counsel and ask OpenAI to explain in detail the process by which they created the voice system.

Scarlett Johansson quickly and completely shutting down another #AI scammer (Sam Altman and OpenAI, natch).https://t.co/KBXG9h74uL pic.twitter.com/JoxlaOItut
— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) May 20, 2024

OpenAI pulls out new voice after Johansson questioned how it was made

Her response follows the company’s move to pull its ChatGPT voice called “Sky” which it released last week.

“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.

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.

Read more about how we chose these voices: https://t.co/R8wwZjU36L
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 20, 2024

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The actress starred in the 2013 science fiction movie “Her”, where she plays the voice of Samantha, an operating system that uses intuitive artificial intelligence, capable of developing and evolving.

Samantha, despite being a non-physical entity, exhibits emotions, desires, and a distinct personality, leading Theodore (played by Joaquin Phoenix) to experience a profound connection with her.