Scarlett Johansson says she is 'shocked, angered' over new ChatGPT voice

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the controversy surrounding OpenAI's use of a voice assistant that sounds similar to Scarlett Johansson's voice in the movie "Her". It covers the legal demands from Johansson's lawyers, OpenAI's response, and the broader implications of AI voice assistants that can mimic human voices.

🙋 Q&A

[01] OpenAI's Voice Assistant Controversy

1. What are the key points of the controversy around OpenAI's voice assistant?

• Scarlett Johansson's lawyers are demanding that OpenAI disclose how it developed an AI voice assistant that sounds similar to Johansson's voice
• Johansson says OpenAI's CEO approached her 9 months ago to license her voice, which she declined, but the company went ahead and used a similar-sounding voice anyway
• OpenAI denies any connection between the voice and Johansson, saying it was developed from a different actress's voice
• Johansson sees this as a personal affront and wants transparency around the use of her likeness to power AI tools

2. How does this controversy relate to the broader issues around AI and human likenesses?

• Johansson is using this incident to draw attention to the lack of legal safeguards around the use of creative work to power leading AI tools
• There are concerns about the risks of people forming emotional connections to AI systems that can speak in human-like voices, as depicted in the movie "Her"
• The development of advanced AI voice assistants raises questions about the impact on society as more people adopt these tools

[02] Comparison to Google's AI Assistant

1. How does Google's AI assistant compare to OpenAI's in terms of voice and personality?

• Google's AI assistant, known as Project Astra, appears to be less quippy and playful compared to OpenAI's voice assistant
• Google's version is described as more matter-of-fact, while OpenAI's was seen as having a flirtatious and coquettish demeanor

2. What do these differences suggest about the approaches of the two companies?

• The contrasting personalities of the AI assistants suggest that the companies are taking different approaches in developing their voice technologies
• OpenAI seems to be aiming for a more engaging and personable assistant, while Google's appears to be more straightforward