Scarlett Johansson challenges OpenAI over voice that sounds 'eerily similar' to hers

Event Summary

Scarlett Johansson challenged OpenAI in May 2024 over a ChatGPT voice that sounded ‘eerily similar’ to hers. The controversy over AI voice cloning and celebrity likeness rights.

Impact Assessment

• Risk Creation -2 · Medium-term

  Demonstrated the power imbalance between AI companies and individuals whose voices/likenesses could be replicated without consent. Raised fundamental questions about AI voice consent, celebrity likeness rights, and the adequacy of existing legal protections.

  Affected Groups: celebrities, voice actors, general public, AI companies

Consensus & Sources

• 1
  Scarlett Johansson Said No, but OpenAI's Virtual Assistant Sounds Just Like Her — NYT (May 20, 2024)

  URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/20/technology/scarlett-johannson-openai-voice.html

  Johansson said OpenAI used a voice that sounded 'eerily similar to mine.'

  News Report Citation logged Live source
• 2
  Scarlett Johansson wants answers about ChatGPT voice that sounds like 'Her' — NPR (May 20, 2024)

  URL: https://www.npr.org/2024/05/20/1252495087/openai-pulls-ai-voice-that-was-compared-to-scarlett-johansson-in-the-movie-her

  OpenAI pulls AI voice that was compared to Scarlett Johansson in the movie 'Her'.

  News Report Citation logged Live source