Scarlett Johansson accuses OpenAI of using her voice in ChatGPT system without permission

Scarlett Johansson has accused OpenAI of utilising a voice "eerily similar" to hers for its ChatGPT 4.0 system, named "Sky," despite her declining an offer to voice the AI. 

In a statement to PEOPLE, Johansson revealed she was approached by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in September 2023 with the opportunity to lend her voice to the AI, believing it would "bridge the gap between tech companies and creatives." Citing personal reasons, she declined the offer.

Nine months later, Johansson was shocked to discover that the "Sky" voice in the released ChatGPT 4.0 demo sounded strikingly like her own, causing confusion among friends, family, and the public. 

Johansson alleges Altman insinuated the similarity was intentional through a tweet referencing "her," a nod to the film where she voiced an AI system. She further claims Altman attempted to persuade her to reconsider days before the demo's release.

Feeling her likeness was exploited, Johansson has taken legal action, demanding transparency and clarity on how OpenAI created the "Sky" voice. She emphasises the importance of protecting individual rights and likeness in an era of deepfakes and AI-generated content.

OpenAI, acknowledging the concerns, has temporarily paused the use of the "Sky" voice and detailed the voice selection process in a blog post. However, they maintain that the voice was never intended to resemble Johansson's. Altman has since apologised for the lack of communication, clarifying that the voice actor was cast before any contact with Johansson.

This incident raises ethical questions regarding the use of AI-generated voices and the protection of individual rights in an increasingly AI-driven world.