When Hollywood Meets AI: The Voice That Sparked a Debate
Scarlett Johansson has entered the chat – and she’s not happy. The Oscar-nominated actress called out OpenAI this week after claiming their ChatGPT ‘Sky’ voice sounded uncannily like her own, despite turning down an offer to collaborate. Cue the drama! 🎭
AI or Alter Ego?
Johansson revealed OpenAI CEO Sam Altman approached her in September 2023 to voice their AI system. She declined, but nine months later, friends and fans flooded her with reactions to the ‘Sky’ demo: “Wait… is that YOU?” 🌪️
“I was shocked, angered, and in disbelief,”
Johansson said in a statement, adding that Altman seemingly teased the similarity by referencing her film Her – where she voices an AI companion – in a cryptic tweet. OpenAI insists ‘Sky’ uses another actress’s voice, but the timing has left many side-eyeing the tech giant. 👀
GPT-4o: Smarter… or Sketchier?
The controversy erupted as OpenAI unveiled GPT-4o, its new “omni” model that handles text, audio, and video in real-time. Early demos showed the AI cracking jokes, analyzing emotions, and even flirting – sparking critiques about gendered tech design. As The Daily Show’s Desi Lydic joked: “This is programmed to feed dudes’ egos.” 😒
What Happens Next?
OpenAI has paused ‘Sky’’s voice amid the backlash, but the debate is just heating up. From ethics to intellectual property, this clash highlights bigger questions about AI’s role in our lives. Stay tuned – this story’s got more layers than a ChatGPT-generated poem. 📚✨
