Which actress publicly confronted OpenAI in May 2024 for using an AI voice in ChatGPT that sounded eerily similar to hers?

The actress who publicly confronted OpenAI in May 2024 for using an AI voice in ChatGPT that sounded remarkably like hers was Scarlett Johansson. This incident quickly became a prominent example of the growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence, intellectual property, and celebrity likeness.

The controversy began when OpenAI introduced new voice models for its GPT-4o, including one named "Sky." Many users, as well as Johansson herself, immediately noted an uncanny resemblance between the "Sky" voice and Johansson's distinctive vocal performance as the AI assistant Samantha in the 2013 film "Her." This comparison was further fueled by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's single-word tweet, "her," on the day of the GPT-4o demonstration.

Johansson revealed that Altman had previously approached her in September 2023, asking her to license her voice for the ChatGPT system, an offer she declined for personal reasons. She stated that she was "shocked, angered and in disbelief" when she heard the "Sky" voice, as even her closest friends (Review) and news outlets couldn't distinguish it from her own. Following her public statement and the involvement of her legal team, OpenAI announced it would "pause" the use of the "Sky" voice.

OpenAI initially denied that the "Sky" voice was an imitation of Johansson, stating it belonged to a different professional actress and that AI voices should not deliberately mimic celebrities. However, the swift removal of the voice (Review) highlighted the complexities and ethical dilemmas at the intersection of AI development and personal rights, sparking broader discussions about consent, intellectual property in the age of AI, and the need for clearer regulations.