ChatGPT suspends AI voice that sounds like Scarlett Johansson | ChatGPT

OpenAI removed a much-promoted voice option from ChatGPT on Monday, following widespread backlash to the flirtatious, feminine voice that sounded almost identical to Scarlett Johansson’s.

The company used the voice, which it calls “Sky”, during its widely publicized event last week showcasing the capabilities of the new ChatGPT-4o artificial intelligence model. The researchers chatted with the AI ​​assistant to show off Sky’s friendly, responsive affectations, which users and media members immediately compared to Johansson’s AI companion character in Spike Jonze’s 2013 film Her.

Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman seemed to suggest that the voice design intentionally mimicked Johansson’s character, posting a one-word tweet after the presentation that simply said “she.” Less than a week later, OpenAI felt compelled to explicitly clarify that Sky was not based on Johansson. The company published a blog post about the creation of Sky and claimed that it values ​​the dubbing industry.

“Sky’s voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson but belongs to another professional actress using her own natural voice,” the blog reads. “To protect their privacy, we cannot share the names of our voice talent.”

While many commentators have noted Sky’s similarities to Johansson on Her — including Johansson’s husband and Saturday Night Live cast member Colin Jost during a segment in the series’ season finale — others wondered why the voice was so flattering and gendered. “You can definitely say a man built this technology,” Daily Show host Desi Lydic joked last week. “She says, ‘I have all the information in the world, but I don’t know anything.'”

OpenAI said it selected ChatGPT’s voice based on a series of criteria, including “timeless” quality and being “an accessible voice that inspires trust.” OpenAI reviewed hundreds of voiceover submissions over a five-month period last year, the company said, releasing five different voice options for its ChatGPT in September. The chosen actors then flew to San Francisco for recording sessions which allowed OpenAI to train its models on their voices.

The company withdrew its Sky voice days after several senior members of its security team resigned, with a key researcher, Jan Leike, saying after his departure that the company was prioritizing “shiny products” over culture and security processes. Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman defended the company over the weekend, saying it wouldn’t release a product if there were security concerns.

OpenAI’s blog post Sunday about its ChatGPT voice creation also made numerous mentions of the company’s collaboration with entertainment industry professionals and paying voice actors for their work. AI companies, particularly OpenAI, have faced intense backlash, including lawsuits, from artists, creators and media companies over allegations of copyright violations. author and the fear that AI will replace human workers. Major entertainment unions, such as Sag-Aftra, have gone on strike over issues including how their likenesses will be used by artificial intelligence.