Actor Scarlett Johansson recently made headlines for her comments about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman potentially being a Marvel villain, jokingly suggesting he could sport a robotic arm. The quip came in the midst of a dispute between Johansson and Altman's company, OpenAI, over the release of their latest GPT-4o model in May.
The controversy arose when social media users pointed out that one of the voice options in the AI model, named 'Sky,' bore a striking resemblance to the AI chatbot Johansson voiced in the 2013 film 'Her.' Johansson expressed shock and disbelief at the similarity, stating that even her closest friends and news outlets struggled to differentiate between the two voices.
Johansson revealed that she had initially declined Altman's offer to voice the AI model in September but was approached again in May, just days before the demo was released on May 13. OpenAI later clarified that the voice of 'Sky' was not intended to mimic Johansson's and had been cast before any contact with the actress.
Following the backlash, OpenAI announced a pause in the release of 'Sky' and acknowledged the need for better communication. Altman expressed regret over the situation and apologized to Johansson for the oversight.
In an interview, Johansson described the experience as surreal and disturbing, emphasizing the rapid pace at which technology evolves and its impact on society. She highlighted the challenges of navigating technological advancements, particularly for younger generations.
The incident underscores the complexities of AI development and the importance of ethical considerations in creating AI models. Both parties have yet to comment further on the matter.
