The Ethical Dilemma of AI Voice Selection: OpenAI’s Decision to Remove Scarlett Johansson’s Voice from their Chatbot

Scarlett Johansson, known for her role as a voice of an artificial intelligence assistant in the film “Her,” has expressed shock and anger after discovering that OpenAI had used her voice in one of their chatbot’s voices. The company had approached her last September to ask if she could lend her voice to their system but she declined the offer. However, when she heard the released demo of Sky’s voice, which she found eerily similar to her own, Johansson promptly requested its removal from OpenAI’s chatbot.

In response to the concerns raised by Johansson and others, OpenAI explained that they had chosen Sky’s voice before contacting Johansson and that it was not their intention to replicate her voice. The company stated that AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebrity’s voice and assured that Sky belongs to another professional actress who they could not disclose due to privacy reasons. Altman apologized to Johansson for the lack of communication and confirmed that Sky’s voice would no longer be used in their products.

OpenAI’s decision to discontinue the use of Sky’s voice reflects their commitment to addressing user concerns and ensuring that their technology aligns with ethical standards in voice selection. By offering a range of distinctive voices for users to interact with, the company aims to provide a more inclusive and diverse experience for all users.