OpenAI’s AI Assistant Controversy
Scarlett Johansson’s Reaction
Last week, OpenAI showcased an AI assistant that bore a striking resemblance to the AI character voiced by Scarlett Johansson in the sci-fi movie Her. This similarity prompted Johansson to take action.
“My agent was contacted by Altman two days before last week’s demo asking that I reconsider my decision not to work with OpenAI.”
After witnessing the demo, Johansson hired legal counsel to request details from OpenAI about how the new voice was created.
Legal Concerns and Copyright Issues
Johansson’s legal team reached out to OpenAI, which led to the company’s announcement on Sunday. The announcement addressed allegations of inappropriate use of copyrighted content to train its algorithms. This issue is part of a broader trend, with lawsuits from entities like The New York Times and authors such as George R.R. Martin.
The Rise of Generative AI
Generative AI has significantly simplified the creation of realistic synthetic voices, presenting both opportunities and risks. For instance, in January, voters in New Hampshire received robocalls featuring synthetic voices, raising concerns about potential misuse.
Updated 5-20-2024, 9 pm EDT: This article has been updated with comment from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
4 Comments
What if companies just think they can do whatever they want now?
Scarlett Johansson’s voice in ChatGPT? That’s a plot twist!
Scarlett Johansson challenging OpenAI is the lawsuit we didn’t see coming!
Oh, now we’re getting movie stars involved in AI dramas!