Famous actress Scarlett Johansson is upset that a new AI chatbot has a similar voice.
- The chatbot is made by the company OpenAI and uses their new AI language model, ChatGPT
- Johansson says the chatbot voice sounds “eerily” like hers
- She was offered to be the voice of the chatbot but declined
- Johansson is considering legal action over the AI voice imitation
Does an AI mimicking a celebrity’s voice without permission raise ethical concerns? Read on to learn more about this buzzy story.
Scarlett’s Statement on the AI Voice
Scarlett Johansson said she was “shocked, angered, and in disbelief” when she heard the new AI chatbot voice. The actress, known for her role as an AI assistant in the movie “Her”, said the voice is unmistakably similar to her own.
“My closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference,” she stated. Johansson had been approached to voice the chatbot but declined the offer from OpenAI.
She criticized OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman for posting the word “hero” on social media, suggesting her movie role inspired the AI’s human-like voice.
OpenAI Responds to Voice Controversy
OpenAI has responded by pausing the voice “Sky” in their products. In a statement, CEO Sam Altman said:
“The voice of Sky is not Scarlett Johansson’s and was never intended to resemble hers. We cast the voice actor before any outreach to Miss Johansson.”
Altman added that out of respect for the actress, they have halted using the Sky voice while the situation is resolved.
Celebrities vs AI Mimicking Humans
Scarlett Johansson is the latest celebrity to question individual rights as artificial intelligence (AI) develops human-mimicking capabilities. With advances in AI voice cloning, facial mapping, and “deepfake” videos, many stars are concerned about protecting their personal and image rights.
Some experts worry that AI could be misused without proper regulation to manufacture fake audio, video or text under a celebrity’s identity. This emerging ethical issue will likely receive more attention as the technology evolves.
Considering the Implications
The controversy highlights complex questions we’ll face as AI grows more sophisticated at replicating human traits like voices, appearances, writing styles and more:
- Should people’s voices be protected from unconsented AI mimicking?
- Could an AI using a celebrity’s vocal likeness be considered a form of identity theft?
- How might “voice cloning” technology impact laws around personal rights?
As AI creations become increasingly human-like, determining rights and regulations may become crucial to avoid using powerful technology.
What do you think about AI replicating people’s voices without their okay? Is it wrong, or is it just inevitable with advancing tech? Share your thoughts below!
The screenshot is taken from – nerdist.com
