Scarlett Johansson informed OpenAI to not use her voice — and she’s not completely satisfied they could have anyway

“Final September, I obtained a suggestion from Sam Altman, who needed to rent me to voice the present ChatGPT 4.0 system. He informed me that he felt that by my voicing the system, I might bridge the hole between tech firms and creatives and assist customers to really feel snug with the seismic shift regarding people and AI. He stated he felt that my voice could be comforting to individuals.  

After a lot consideration and for private causes, I declined the supply. 9 months later, my buddies, household and most people all famous how a lot the latest system named “Sky” seemed like me. 

Once I heard the launched demo, I used to be shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily much like mine that my closest buddies and information shops couldn’t inform the distinction. Mr. Altman even insinuated that the similarity was intentional, tweeting a single phrase “her” – a reference to the movie wherein I voiced a chat system, Samantha, who kinds an intimate relationship with a human. 

Two days earlier than the ChatGPT 4.0 demo was launched, Mr. Altman contacted my agent, asking me to rethink. Earlier than we might join, the system was on the market.

Because of their actions, I used to be pressured to rent authorized counsel, who wrote two letters to Mr. Altman and OpenAI, setting out what they’d achieved and asking them to element the precise course of by which they created the “Sky” voice. Consequently, OpenAI reluctantly agreed to take down the “Sky” voice. 

In a time once we are all grappling with deepfakes and the safety of our personal likeness, our personal work, our personal identities, I imagine these are questions that deserve absolute readability. I sit up for decision within the type of transparency and the passage of acceptable laws to assist be certain that particular person rights are protected.”