OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company, has made the decision to remove one of the voices used by its ChatGPT system due to its similarity to Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson.
The voice in question, known as “Sky,” was found to bear a resemblance to Johansson’s performance in the 2013 film, Her, where she portrayed an operating system that the main character falls in love with.
Upon showcasing the new model, OpenAI faced criticism for the voice’s similarities to Johansson’s iconic performance. However, the company emphasized that the voices used in ChatGPT were carefully selected through a rigorous five-month process involving industry professionals, including voice actors and casting directors.
Despite the unintended resemblance, OpenAI clarified that the voice was not meant to imitate Johansson and that AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebrity’s distinctive voice. The company is currently working to address concerns about its selection process and is looking to temporarily pause the voice in question.
During a recent demonstration of its new model GPT-4o, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman referenced the film Her, highlighting the chatbot’s enhanced conversational abilities. The chatbot’s responses and voice sparked mixed reactions online, with some critics pointing out gendered stereotypes in its interactions.
OpenAI’s goal with the new voices is to create a multilingual and approachable experience for users, with a focus on timeless charisma.
The advanced voice features demonstrated at the event have yet to be rolled out to ChatGPT users. Still, they will soon be available to subscribers who opt for faster responses and priority access to new features.
