Scarlett Johansson Addresses OpenAI's "Sky" Voice Controversy: What Happened?

OpenAI's recent decision to remove the AI voice, dubbed "Sky," which bore a striking resemblance to Scarlett Johansson's voice, has sparked a flurry of debate. While the company asserts that the voice was not an imitation but rather the product of a real voice actor, Johansson herself has stepped forward with her side of the story.

In a statement released shortly after the removal of "Sky," Johansson claims that she had voiced objections to the use of her tones to OpenAI founder Sam Altman. Despite her objections, Altman proceeded with the update until legal intervention became necessary. Sources familiar with the situation have corroborated Johansson's account, lending weight to her claims.

Johansson's full statement is below:

Last September, I received an offer from Sam Altman, who wanted to hire me to voice the current ChatGPT 4.0 system. He told me that he felt that by my voicing the system, I could bridge the gap between tech companies and creatives and help consumers to feel comfortable with the seismic shift concerning humans and AI. He said he felt that my voice would be comforting to people.
 
After much consideration and for personal reasons, I declined the offer. Nine months later, my friends, family and the general public all noted how much the newest system named "Sky" sounded like me.

When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference. Mr. Altman even insinuated that the similarity was intentional, tweeting a single word "her" - a reference to the film in which I voiced a chat system, Samantha, who forms an intimate relationship with a human.

Two days before the ChatGPT 4.0 demo was released, Mr. Altman contacted my agent, asking me to reconsider. Before we could connect, the system was out there.

As a result of their actions, I was forced to hire legal counsel, who wrote two letters to Mr. Altman and OpenAI, setting out what they had done and asking them to detail the exact process by which they created the "Sky" voice. Consequently, OpenAI reluctantly agreed to take down the "Sky" voice.
In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity. I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected.

The controversy surrounding "Sky" extends beyond mere imitation concerns. The matter holds significant implications for Hollywood's labor unions, particularly in light of recent strikes centered on AI-related issues.

OpenAI, initially founded as a non-profit organization, has evolved into a for-profit entity with substantial backing from tech giant Microsoft. The company's commitment to ethical and legal considerations surrounding AI voices remains a focal point amid growing scrutiny from industry stakeholders.